Federal grants to help upgrade airports in Batesville, Tunica, Holly Springs

June 07--Regional airports in Tunica, Batesville in Panola County and Holly Springs in Marshall County will benefit by almost $1.1 million in the latest round of Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grants.

The awards announced this week are among 16 to communities across Mississippi totaling $4,113,916.

"The Air Improvement grant program was among the issues debated in the recent legislation to reauthorize the FAA," said Chris Gallegos, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss. Airport needs were established, and the program survived scrutiny.

These AIP grants represent a second round of awards for work on airports in the state. In early May, the state received 22 grants worth more than $9.75 million.

"Communities in Mississippi rely on these FAA programs that are designed to benefit small and rural regions," said Cochran. "Essential Air Service helps maintain passenger air service outside urban hubs, which can be an asset in promoting economic development. In the same way, the Small Community Air Service and Airport Improvement Program grant programs are beneficial to creating more reliable, safe and efficient air service throughout our state."

At the Tunica Municipal Airport, a nonhub primary facility, the latest grants will provide $456,961 for rehabilitation of the runway, and to conduct a Wildlife Hazard Assessment to identify species observed and assess numbers, locations, local movement and and daily-seasonal activities.

In Batesville, $600,000 will fund construction of hangar structures at the Panola County Airport to assist the airport to be as self-sustaining as possible by generating revenue. A new taxiway will provide access to aircraft hangars.

"We're going to build eight hangers, available for rent," said Kelly Magee, Panola County administrator. She said the airport, adjacent to an industrial park, already has a terminal and several hangers that are privately owned.

The grant application was successful on the county's second try, said Magee. "They didn't make any awards last year."

About $36,000 will allow for acquisition of land for development by the Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport in Mississippi. The land is adjacent to the existing airport property and will be used for future Airport Improvement Program-eligible development.

Other grants went to Oxford, Brookhaven, Waynesboro, Jackson, New Albany, Booneville, Columbus, Pascagoula, Forest, Indianola, Houston, Vicksburg and Richton.

-- Henry Bailey: (901) 333-2012