Gov. Kelly announces $14.5M for 47 aviation projects across Kansas

Submitted

Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday $14.5 million for 47 aviation projects across the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP), which provides funding for planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports. 

“The Kansas aerospace industry is an essential part of our state’s economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Keeping our aviation infrastructure in optimal condition is a large part of that economic growth and job creation, allowing local businesses and communities to prosper.” 

The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 81 applications seeking a combined total project value of more than $42 million for this round of KAIP grants. Projects were selected from across the state and focused on pavement preservation, safety, and air ambulance accessibility to remote communities. 

“Combining state and local funds to provide vital improvements to general aviation airports has helped to create a statewide aviation network citizens can depend on,” said Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed. “This offers more services, like air ambulance accessibility, that can help support transportation needs in all areas of Kansas.” 

The KAIP receives $15 million annually through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE) and requires local matching funds of 10-50%, depending on the project. With local matching funds for these projects, the KAIP total project value this year is $22.9 million. 

Approved state FY 2026 KAIP projects:

Allen County Airport, Iola 

1. $409,500 for design and construction of a taxilane project. 

Anthony Municipal Airport, Anthony 

1. $153,000 for Jet A fuel system. 

Atkinson Municipal Airport, Pittsburg  

1. $81,000 for a focused Airport Layout Plan update. 

Atwood-Rawlins County City—County Airport, Atwood  

1. $270,000 for new Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS).  

Chanute Martin Johnson Airport, Chanute 

1. $450,000 for design and reconstruction of south apron phased pavement project. 

Cheyenne County Municipal Airport, Saint Francis 

1. $180,000 for runway pavement rehabilitation. 

Clay Center Municipal Airport, Clay Center 

1. $468,000 to construct taxilanes and hangar approaches. 

Clyde Cessna Field, Kingman 

1. $90,000 for fuel system upgrades. 

Comanche County Airport 

1. $540,000 for runway and taxiway lights. 

1. $90,000 for fuel system improvements. 

Cook Airfield, Rose Hill 

1. $34,650 for aircraft parking ramp and drainage. 

1. $22,680 for Taxiway A extension.  

Dighton Airport, Dighton  

1. $274,500 for runway and taxiway pavement crack fill, seal coat, and markings.

Emporia Municipal Airport, Emporia 

1. $391,000 to rehabilitate the south apron. 

1. $208,000 to relocate and upgrade fuel system. 

Fort Scott Municipal Airport, Fort Scott 

1. $684,000 to replace taxiway edge lighting. 

Freeman Field, Junction City 

1. $189,000 for tip-down rotating beacon.   

Garnett Municipal Airport, Garnett 

1. $20,000 help with local match for phased FAA runway reconstruction project. 

Gove County Airport, Quinter 

1. $120,000 for a pilot lounge, restroom, hangar, and snow removal equipment storage. 

Great Bend Municipal Airport, Great Bend 

1. $450,000 for design of runway 11/29 reconstruction. 

1. $146,000 for local match for FAA funded runway 17/35 rehabilitation. 

Greensburg Municipal Airport, Greensburg 

1. $191,250 for design of a project to pave runway 18/36. 

Independence Municipal Airport, Independence 

1. $756,000 for rehabilitating north asphalt apron pavement. 

Jetmore Municipal Airport, Jetmore 

1. $800,000 for planning and design for runway 17/35 reconstruction project. 

Johnson County Airport, Olathe 

1. $13,600 for pavement maintenance materials. 

Kearny County Airport, Lakin 

1. $537,000 for design and construction of runway 14/32 lighting.  

Lawrence Regional Airport, Lawrence 

1. $666,000 for design and construction of runway 1/19 pavement rehabilitation. 

Lt. William M. Milliken Airport, Eureka 

1. $385,200 for design and construction of a runway light and PAPI rehab project. 

Mankato Airport, Mankato 

1. $333,333 for design of a runway extension, rehab, and lighting project.

Marion Municipal Airport, Marion 

1. $138,330 to replace the fuel system. 

Mark Hoard Memorial Airport, Leoti  

1. $373,860 help with local match for FAA funded hangar project.  

McPherson Airport, McPherson  

1. $350,000 for design and construction for phased fuel system replacement.

Miami County Airport, Paola 

1. $765,000 to rehabilitate west taxilanes and hangar ramps. 

Mid-America Regional Airport, Liberal 

1. $382,500 to replace runway 04/22 PAPI and REIL systems. 

Ness City Municipal Airport, Ness City 

1. $25,215 for help with local match for FAA funded apron expansion project. 

New Century Air Center, Olathe 

1. $800,000 for rehabilitation of the central portion of the west apron.
2. $13,600 for pavement preservation materials.

Newton City-County Airport, Newton  

1. $647,361 for electrical upgrades to runway 8/26. 

Oakley Municipal Airport, Oakley 

1. $180,000 for fuel system improvements. 

Osborne Municipal Airport, Osborne 

1. $800,000 to rehabilitate runway 02/20 pavement. 

Pratt Regional Airport, Pratt 

1. $77,490 to update ALP.

Scott City Municipal Airport, Scott City 

1. $27,360 to relocate wind cone and upgrade segmented circle. 

Shalz Field, Colby 

1. $180,000 to construction taxiway extension. 

Stanton County Municipal Airport, Johnson 

1. $270,000 to install electric vault and relocate airfield electrical controls and regulators. 

Syracuse-Hamilton County Airport, Syracuse 

1. $27,000 for runway 13/31 pavement crack seal. 

Tri-City Airport, Parsons 

1. $540,000 to replace fuel system.

Wellington Municipal Airport, Wellington 

1. $29,925 fuel system improvement.