Indianapolis Airport Authority Secures Largest Airport Improvement Grant In Nation

The Indianapolis Airport Authority will receive the nation’s largest allotment of recent Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program funding.

The airport will get more than $56 million to be used for airfield improvements, including the initial construction phase to strengthen and enhance capacity on a runway and the initial construction and electrical phase of a taxiway.

“This is the crown jewel among the collection of grants the IAA is set to receive,” said IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez. “It’s the largest single grant in our airport’s history, and the largest allotment among the nation’s airports in the FAA’s latest AIP funding round.”

Rodriguez said the project is anticipated to create more than 2,700 construction jobs.

The Indianapolis airport will also receive nearly $1 million from a total of $5.9 million allocated nationally to airports for Zero Emissions Vehicle grants. The airport authority will use the funding to purchase two 25-foot electric shuttle buses and charging stations, growing its fleet of electric shuttle buses to 12. It will be one of the nation’s largest electric shuttle bus fleets at an airport.

The airport will also receive more than $11 million to increase its capacity for Remain Over Night parking of aircraft on the airfield. This project is part of the airport authority’s effort to secure additional nonstop flights from Indianapolis and new commercial service carriers. So far this year, the airport has announced 21 new nonstop flights and added new airlines, Sun Country and Contour, to the lineup.

“The work these grants support not only maintain and enhance airport infrastructure, but they also create opportunities for many local companies to compete for these projects, leveraging a diverse business network and workforce that reflects the community,” said Jarod Klaas, senior director of planning and development for the airport authority.

Two other grants totaling nearly $300,000 grants will go to Eagle Creek Airport and Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport.