U.S. DOT: U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood announces $6.3 Million in economic recovery funds for General Mitchell International Airport

Contact: Marcia Adams

Tel.: (202) 267-3883

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced that the County of Milwaukee will receive $6.3 million under the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

“The Recovery Act was put in place quickly to rescue the economy from the worst recession since the Great Depression and rebuild it for a stronger future,” said Secretary LaHood. “Rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure is a key part of that prescription for strength. It creates jobs today and builds a better, more sustainable economy moving forward.”

The County of Milwaukee will receive $6.3 million for General Mitchell International Airport to construct runway safety areas at runways 11/19R.

The FAA is moving swiftly to work with airport sponsors to ensure that eligible projects have completed or nearly completed, design and planning requirements. Under the ARRA, the FAA received $1.1 billion to provide discretionary grants to qualified airports. That funding has been allocated based on a project priority system that addresses airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impacts.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has made $48.1 billion available for highway, road, transit, bridge and airport construction and repairs nationwide. Of that, $28.6 billion already has been obligated to fund more than 8,913 approved projects in 55 U.S. States and Territories.

About 3,400 airports designated as part of the national airport system are eligible to receive ARRA dollars.