Anniston Regional Airport Lands $18.49 Million Federal Runway Grant
At a glance
— Anniston Regional Airport will receive an $18.49 million federal grant for improvements to its primary runway.
— The grant will cover about 96.9% of the $19.09 million project, which supports Anniston Army Depot operations.
— City officials say the runway investment could help expand aviation activity and economic opportunities around the airport.
Anniston Regional Airport is set for a major runway upgrade after the City of Anniston was awarded an $18.49 million federal grant.
According to a recent news release from the City of Anniston, the $18,492,378 Defense Community Infrastructure Program grant will fund approximately 96.9 percent of the $19,092,378 project, which is intended to support Anniston Army Depot and strengthen the airport’s infrastructure.
Mayor Ciara Smith-Roston said the investment represents another step in the city’s effort to chart a long-term future for the airport.
“We have been working really hard to reimagine what our Anniston Regional Airport can be, not just for Anniston, but for this entire region,” Smith-Roston said, according to the city release.
She said the airport’s relationship with Anniston Army Depot and Anniston Munitions has been an important part of that vision.
“We are working to make sure our airport is sustainable, economically viable, and able to support the needs of our community and our defense partners,” Smith-Roston said.
The city release said the runway project builds on Anniston Regional Airport’s existing role in supporting military aviation traffic associated with the depot.
The airport also has an established economic footprint. According to an Alabama Department of Transportation study published in December 2020 using data collected in 2018-19, airport-related activity supported an estimated $4.57 million in annual economic activity, $1.28 million in annual payroll and 44 jobs, including indirect and induced employment.
Those figures predate the newly announced federal investment.
The city said improving the primary runway could help the airport accommodate aviation demand while creating opportunities for additional aviation businesses, fueling services, hangar use and related spending at area hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Anniston Regional Airport is a state-certified, unlimited-use general aviation facility near Interstate 20 and highways 431, 21 and 78. According to the city release, its asphalt runway is 7,002 feet long and 150 feet wide.
The airport also has more than 500,000 square feet of paved apron and ramp space, along with hangars, aircraft tie-downs, flight instruction and aviation fuel services.
Smith-Roston credited city officials and staff for helping advance the project.
“There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to get to this point, and I have to give credit to our City Manager, Matthew Caballero, and our Economic Development Director and Airport Manager, Aaron Norris,” she said, according to the release.
She also thanked the Anniston City Council for supporting the airport’s development.
“It takes all of us working together to accomplish a task this grand,” Smith-Roston said.
The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is administered by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. According to the city release, the competitive federal program supports infrastructure projects that benefit military installations and surrounding communities.
The Anniston project was among 26 DCIP awards totaling approximately $230 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026, according to the city release.
The city said additional information about project scheduling and related public announcements will be released as details are finalized.
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