Governor Hochul Announces $49 Million in State Funding for Airports Across New York State

Funding Through the Aviation Capital Grant Program

Funds Support Modernization, Operational Improvements, Resiliency, and Safety Enhancements

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 36 public-use airports across New York State will receive approximately $49 million for strategic infrastructure enhancements that will enhance safety, facilitate innovation, leverage existing resources, advance business development, and promote sustainability and resiliency.

“A strong investment in our airports is a meaningful investment in our communities and the future of the Empire State,” Governor Hochul said. “Airports are gateways to communities large and small across New York State and these grants will serve as a launchpad to springboard many of these facilities into the 21st century and beyond.”

Administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, projects funded through the Aviation Capital Grant Program include the construction and rehabilitation of new and existing hangars, electrification and carbon reduction programs, new and upgraded snow removal equipment, and updated security systems. These investments will serve to make the surrounding communities more economically competitive with neighboring states.

Funding from the Aviation Capital Grant Program was awarded to the following projects:

CAPITAL DISTRICT – $8.8 million

• Albany International Airport, Albany County - $1.6 million toward the rehabilitation, safety overhaul, and energy efficiency modernization of existing elevators located in the existing terminal area and north parking garage elevators.
• Columbia County Airport, Columbia County - $2.4 million toward terminal building upgrades addressing the existing facilities’ age and energy inefficiencies by rehabilitation and replacement improvements to many of the existing components within the terminal area space, hangar, and pilots’ lounge.
• Saratoga County Airport, Saratoga County - $1.5 million toward an emergency back-up generator to be run off the existing natural gas line.
• Schenectady County Airport, Schenectady County - $0.9 million toward the procurement of snow removal equipment (SRE), specifically a dual engine high speed snowblower vehicle.
• South Albany Airport, Albany County - $2.5 million toward addressing the demand for covered hanger space including the construction of a pre-engineered metal T-hanger as well as the installation of a pre-engineered, covered shade hangar.

CENTRAL NEW YORK – $5.5 million

• Cortland County Airport, Chase Field, Cortland County - $2.5 million toward the construction of a new conventional aircraft storage hangar building including offices and an expansion of the existing landside vehicle parking lot.
• Oswego County Airport, Oswego County - $0.5 million toward the acquisition of aviation fuel trucks.
• Syracuse Regional Airport, Onondaga County - $2.5 million toward the construction phase of a redesigned de-icing pad and control center to address current capacity and safety concerns.

FINGER LAKES – $8.6 million

• Finger Lakes Regional Airport, Seneca County - $2.3 million toward the construction of a T-hangar building consisting of eight to ten bays for the storage of airport-based aircraft, including concrete foundations and floors, new lighting, power outlets, and bi-fold doors.
• Frederick Douglass Great Rochester Regional Airport, Monroe County - $1.1 million toward airport electrification and carbon reduction through a program that can help eliminate the fossil-fuel powered equipment and vehicles and manage airport growth and electrical demand.
• Genesee County Airport, Genesee County - $2.5 million toward the construction of a storage facility for snow removal equipment (SRE) including the building, utilities, paved access, and associated site improvements.
• Penn Yan Airport, Yates County - $2.3 million toward the construction of an eight-bay T-hangar including access pavement, drainage improvements, and security gate improvements.
• Williamson-Sodus Airport, Wayne County - $0.4 million toward the removal of airport obstructions, T-hangar improvements, electrical vehicle chargers, and pavement rehabilitation.

LONG ISLAND – $1 million

• Republic Airport, Suffolk County - $1 million toward safety and electrification; adding a snow removal broom to the airport’s equipment fleet, replacement of airfield mowers with autonomous, electric powered mowers, and to add electric vehicle charging stations to the main terminal parking lot.

MID-HUDSON – $1.5 million

• Hudson Valley Regional Airport, Dutchess County - $0.2 million toward the purchase of two electric mowers capable of maintaining the airfield turf areas, and the purchase of two electric support vehicles for on-airport operations travel.
• Orange County Airport, Orange County - $1.4 million toward expanding the visual area and technological capabilities of the existing security and surveillance system consisting of upgrading existing security cameras, adding new security cameras, replacing existing keypads at automated gates and providing remote access technology, chain link fencing, and gates.

MOHAWK VALLEY – $4.5 million

• Fulton County Airport, Fulton County - $2 million toward the removal and replacement of two existing underground aviation fuel tanks including the existing fuel dispensing system with a new fuel farm to include two above ground state-of-the-art fuel tanks and the associated self-serving dispensing systems.
• Griffiss International Airport, Oneida County - $2.5 million toward renovating and outfitting existing building to accommodate Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation’s expansion who will be leasing the building long term.

NORTH COUNTRY – $7.7 million

• Adirondack Regional Airport, Franklin County - $1 million toward the completion of the town hangar and will include upgraded electric service, lighting, installation of a heating system, insulation, painting of the structural steel, replacement of metal roofing and siding, new liner panels, new windows, and new personnel doors
• Floyd Bennett memorial Airport, Warren County - $2.3 million toward the removal of an existing dilapidated T-hangar and the construction of a new six-unit T-hangar in the same location.
• Massena International Airport, St. Lawrence County - $0.1 million toward the purchase of a batwing trailed mower and a snow removal support vehicle consisting of a commercial grade pick-up truck with material spreader and plow blades.
• Piseco Airport, Hamilton County - $0.1 million toward the acquisition of a skid steer for multipurpose maintenance.
• Plattsburgh International Airport, Clinton County - $2.0 million toward a new eight-bay T-hangar with office space, including improved access pavement, site drainage modifications, and pavement markings.
• Watertown International Airport, Jefferson County - $2.1 million toward the rehabilitation of a portion of Hangar D to extend its useful life including reinforcing the building envelope to reduce areas where deficiencies were identified.

SOUTHERN TIER – $5.1 million

• Corning-Painted Post Airport, Steuben County - $0.3 million toward the acquisition of an excavator with attachments for ground maintenance.
• Elmira Corning Regional Airport, Chemung County - $0.8 million toward the acquisition of electrified equipment and associated charging infrastructure.
• Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, Broome County - $0.8 million toward acquisition of several pieces of ground service equipment (GSE) including electric vehicles in the form of pushback tractor/tugs (large and small) in order to prepare for an electric fleet in a strategic manner.
• Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, Tompkins County - $1.4 million toward the construction of a 2,600 sq.ft. Emergency Operations facility that would be co-located within a proposed Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting/Snow Removal Equipment (ARFF/SRE) facility which is being funded by FAA.
• Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport, Chenango County - $0.6 million toward the acquisition of a new snow removal equipment vehicle (snowplow), and attachments including snowplow and wing combination, and slide-in hopper with spreader for deicing and traction materials.
• Tri-Cities Airport, Broome County - $1.2 million toward the replacement of the existing refueling facility and the installation of new fuel tanks as well as a new self-service credit card reader and tank monitoring system.

WESTERN NEW YORK – $6.3 million

• Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Erie County - $2.2 million toward the purchase and installation of two replacement passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) with new pre-conditioned air (PCA) units and ground power units (GPUs) for Gates 8 and 22 at the BUF passenger terminal.
• Chautauqua County Dunkirk Airport, Chautauqua County - $0.5 million toward the replacement of two existing bi-fold hangar doors with new electric bi-fold doors.
• Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport, Chautauqua County - $1.1 million toward the improvement of existing commercial space within the airport terminal building, replacement of a rapid heating system in an existing hangar, and the replacement of an existing security camera system in and around the terminal.
• Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara County - $1.3 million toward the procurement of 10 pieces of equipment to enhance the safety and efficiency of snow removal operations and wildlife management.
• LeRoy Airport, Genesee County - $0.8 million toward the rehabilitation of existing asphalt taxiways, taxi lanes, aprons, and the vehicle parking area, as well as fuel farm rehabilitation including replacing pumps, hoses, and nozzles.
• Wellsville Municipal Airport, Allegany County - $0.5 million toward the demolition/removal of the existing north hangar roof and the installation of a new insulated metal roof system with new gutters and downspouts.

Funding was awarded to projects through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria including economic benefits for surrounding communities and businesses; adherence to regional economic development plans; safety improvements; improved operational efficiency; and energy efficiency and emissions reduction. The New York State Department of Transportation is committed to working with local project sponsors to expedite the delivery of these improvements.