NH Delegation Announces More than $2.7 Million in Federal Grants for Pease, Lebanon & Manchester Airports

April 14, 2021

**The federal grants will help fund facility infrastructure improvements, safety enhancements & vital equipment purchases by the three airports**

(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $2,740,000 in federal grants to support infrastructure, operations and safety at Pease, Lebanon and Manchester Airports. The federal funding was awarded under the agency's Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has long been a strong supporter of funding for AIP in annual government funding legislation.

'For Granite Staters who live and do business in central New Hampshire, the Seacoast region and the Upper Valley, these local airports are vital transportation hubs that boost economic growth,' said Senator Shaheen. 'These federal dollars are a valuable investment to support the operations and safety at these airports. Securing resources for infrastructure projects like these that Granite State communities rely on to power businesses and create new economic opportunities will continue to be a top priority for me as I work with Congress and the White House.'

'New Hampshire's airports play a critical role in our local economies, supporting the needs of small businesses and helping spur our travel and tourism industry,' said Senator Hassan. 'This significant funding will help with operations and key projects at airports in Portsmouth, Lebanon, and Manchester.'

'The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant financial hardship for airports across the country and highlighted the critical importance of investing in our local and regional transportation infrastructure,' said Representative Kuster. 'New Hampshire's airports are crucial to our state's economy, and this funding will help to ensure that Manchester, Portsmouth and Lebanon Airports are financially secure and well-equipped as we recover from COVID-19. I will continue working in Congress to expand economic opportunities in the Granite State and secure additional support for our communities as we build back from this public health and economic crisis.'

'New Hampshire's airports are critical economic engines and support thousands of jobs, and we know investments are needed to modernize equipment and infrastructure,' said Representative Pappas. 'I'm pleased that New Hampshire will be receiving these federal funds to support our airports which are crucial to our economic recovery and future.'

'The grant funds provided are critical to the ability of the City to keep the airport open. Without these funds there would be layoffs of both public and private sector employees at the airport. The City sincerely appreciates the support provided by Senator Shaheen in her advocacy in regards to these grants during the crisis we are facing,' said Shaun Mulholland, Lebanon City Manager.

'These two grants will assist the Airport in enhancing our safety and providing world-class service to our guests. The continued support of the federal government will be critical to ensure safety-enhancing projects are implemented, especially as the recovery in passenger demand strengthens across the region and nation. We thank Senator Shaheen and the New Hampshire Congressional delegation for their continued support of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport,' said Ted Kitchens, Airport Director, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

'Portsmouth International Airport is fortunate to receive two entitlement grants from the FAA totaling $1.26M. This funding will allow the airport to procure airfield snow removal equipment and pave an airfield perimeter access road. Strengthening and repairing the asphalt on this roadway will better improve our emergency preparedness plan and ensure our responders can safely respond to an incident. These entitlement grants are great examples of The FAA Airport Improvement Program that is designed to advance safety and improve efficiency,' said Paul Brean, Executive Director, Pease Development Authority.

Under this funding:

• Portsmouth International Airport at Pease will receive $1,260,000 to acquire snow removal equipment and improve an existing on-airport roadway that will allow aircraft rescue firefighting trucks, airport vehicles, or ground service equipment to operate without entering aircraft movement areas.
• Lebanon Municipal Airport will receive $1,250,000 to construct a runway safety area at the facility, rehabilitate the terminal building's envelope, lighting and electrical systems to meet current building code requirements and rehabilitate an on-site sand and chemical storage building to protect them from adverse weather conditions.
• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport will be awarded with $230,000 to reconfigure Taxiway H and rehabilitate Taxiway A.

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