Rep. Panetta Announces Sizable Federal Funding for Monterey Regional Airport

MONTEREY – A significant funding boost for Monterey Regional Airport’s efforts to modernize and upgrade the facility was announced Thursday.

The Monterey Regional Airport was awarded a $22 million grant through the Airport Improvement Program to support improvements to the airport’s tarmac and terminal, according to a press release from Rep. Jimmy Panetta, (D-Carmel Valley). Additionally, a $3 million grant directly through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will support passenger terminal design.

The total $25 million in federal funding supports enhancements to the Monterey airport made possible through a fee-funded Federal Aviation Administration grant and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“By investing in our Monterey Regional Airport, we are investing in the economy and communities of California’s 19th Congressional District,” said Rep. Panetta in the release. “Due to the historic legislation that we passed in Congress, we’re ensuring that the Monterey Regional Airport receives the necessary funding to continue providing its stellar services for travelers and businesses. This type of federal investment in our airport’s safety and passenger experience is crucial to the economic growth, connectivity, and future of our community.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $15 billion in airport infrastructure funding. The money can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.

“We are very pleased and excited that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded this grant to Monterey Regional Airport. This continued commitment to our Safety Enhancement Program will allow us to begin construction of new infrastructure to support a relocated terminal building, one of the key components of our program to ensure continued safe operations,” said Monterey Regional Airport Executive Director Michael La Pier in the release. “We’d like to thank Congressman Panetta and his staff for their tireless work on behalf of the program and this grant. This is one of the largest grants the airport has been awarded and will go a long way toward achieving our goal.”

The Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies – and, in some cases, to private owners and entities – for the planning and development of public-use airports.

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