The Colorado Aeronautical Board approved on Apr. 22 more than $7.3 million in state and local funding for airport infrastructure improvements, safety enhancements, and support for cleaner aviation fuels across the state.
This decision is significant as it supports the goals of the 2020 Colorado Aviation System Plan, which aims to strengthen system viability, safety, and economic sustainability for Colorado’s airports. The latest round of grants brings the total State and Local program to over $10.2 million in state funding this year, with combined local matches supporting nearly $13.8 million in projects statewide.
Among the approved projects are a $450,000 grant to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport for pavement maintenance on its primary taxiway and $639,000 awarded to two airports to help transition to unleaded aviation fuel—an effort that reduces lead emissions in surrounding communities. The Division has now allocated a total of $973,800 this year toward reducing lead impacts under Colorado House Bill 24-1235.
In addition to these grants funded by state and local resources alone, the board also approved 30 federal match and overmatch grant applications totaling more than $6.2 million in state funds. These grants help airports meet requirements needed to access federal funds from programs such as the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Examples include $551,499 provided for access road improvements at Burlington/Kit Carson County airport and airfield pavement maintenance there; Eagle County Regional Airport will receive $921,315 for a new aircraft rescue firefighting vehicle.
David Ulane, Division Director of Aeronautics said: “These investments help ensure that Colorado’s airport system is safe, efficient and able to sustain the $68.9 billion annual economic impact this system enables.” According to the official website of the Colorado Department of Transportation, CDOT works toward improving quality of life through integrated transportation solutions while delivering an effective multi-modal transportation system that safely moves people and goods throughout Colorado.
The cumulative investment supported by these actions amounts to more than $200 million directed into Colorado’s airport network this year alone—a figure made possible by combining contributions from state agencies like CDOT with local governments and federal sources according to information available on their official website. Shoshana Lew serves as executive director overseeing these initiatives at CDOT which manages transportation infrastructure statewide including highways as well as administering aviation-related grants.
