Great Falls International Airport Authority

Great Falls International Airport Authority, operating as Great Falls International Airport, is a local government entity and airport authority based in Great Falls, Montana that receives federal grant funding as a prime recipient under the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program and related aviation infrastructure initiatives, with no federal contracts or contract vehicles.

The airport's federal footprint consists exclusively of FAA grants totaling approximately $19.2 million in combined potential value across 206 awards since 2002. These grants fund terminal expansion and reconstruction projects (including new restrooms, windows, expanded hold and gate areas, and roof replacement), taxiway rehabilitation and construction (10,500 feet of existing taxiways and two 500-foot taxilanes), snow removal equipment acquisition and storage facility expansion (7,725 square feet), security equipment installation (video surveillance systems, access control locks, and identification badge systems), and deicing pad construction (14,000 square yards). Recent major awards include a $559 thousand Airport Infrastructure Grant (CFDA 20.117) awarded April 29, 2026 for terminal expansion through April 28, 2030; a $1.14 million Airport Improvement Program grant (CFDA 20.106) awarded September 18, 2025 for Phase 2 terminal reconstruction and expansion construction; a $2.27 million grant awarded the same date for snow removal equipment building expansion; and a $675 thousand grant awarded September 6, 2024 for central roof system replacement. The airport also received $2.792 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funding under the American Rescue Plan Act and a $700 thousand Small Community Air Service Development Project Grant awarded September 15, 2022 to support a minimum revenue guarantee recruiting new service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport through January 2028. All FAA grants flow through the Northwest Mountain Region office. The airport's activity has averaged three to six awards per year over the past five years, with only one award in 2026 thus far and a minimal recompete exposure (one award completing within the next twenty-four months). The airport does not hold federal contracts, contract vehicles, or serve as a subrecipient on grant awards — it functions solely as a recipient of direct federal aviation infrastructure grants.