State aids small airports

State transportation officials nearly have doubled awards this year for airport improvement projects in Southeast Tennessee, giving money that local officials say keeps their small general aviation airports afloat.

More than $4.5 million has been awarded since January, with more than $4.3 million going toward an environmental assessment and property acquisition for a proposed new airport in Cleveland, Tenn.

Mark Anton Airport in Dayton, Tenn., has received $200,000 this year, and McMinn Municipal Airport in Athens, Tenn., garnered $45,000, records show.

Last year, $2.4 million in airport grants were awarded to Southeast Tennessee counties, officials said.

County and city officials said Friday the money helps airports grow without burdening county coffers.

"We couldn't operate without the grant money," said Dayton City Manager Frank Welch.

Each year, the state gets funds from a state aviation fuel tax and from the Federal Aviation Administration, said Bob Woods, director of the Aeronautics Division of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Half the money goes to commercial airports in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Jackson and the Tri-cities area, Mr. Woods said. More than $31 million will be allotted for general aviation airports statewide in next fiscal year's budget, he said.

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While federal money has remained flat over the last four or five years, state tax revenue has been going up recently because of higher fuel costs, he said. Mr. Woods said the money helps with economic development by providing a way for business people to come in and out of communities.

"Business aviation is a big player at general aviation airports," he said.

Marion County Mayor Howell Moss agreed and said the money helps with improvements counties could not afford. Marion County received $10,000 last year for maintenance. The year before, the airport was awarded $500,000 for a new taxiway, records show.

Counties faced with tight budgets could not afford to pay for runway improvements over education or jails, Mr. Moss said.

"You wouldn't have any small airports like we do," Mr. Moss said.

The Mark Anton Airport in Dayton runs on an operating budget of more than $400,000 a year, city officials said. Airport Director Wanda Fulmer said the airport recoups some of those costs by selling fuel and renting hangars.

She said counties or municipalities have to pay at least a 10 percent match to the state for most of the grants.

"The grant money allows them to do the projects at the airport that need done like fencing and hangars and pavement or repair that they wouldn't be able to do if they had to pay 100 percent," she said.

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