U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, representing Tennessee’s Second Congressional District, announced on his Twitter page Friday that McGhee Tyson Airport, outside Knoxville, will receive a $10.6 million grant via federal taxpayers.
According to Burchett, the funds will go to reconstruct the airport’s runway.
“This is great news for our community and local economy, and I appreciate the administration funding this request,” Burchett said.
According to the Knoxville-based WATE.com, the U.S. Department of Transportation gave out the taxpayer money.
“McGhee Tyson Airport is a first-class facility that continues to break passenger records, and this grant will help the airport continue to be an important economic driver by improving and expanding its existing infrastructure,” the station quoted Burchett as saying.
According to the station, the agency awards grants to public agencies and sometimes private owners and entities to plan and develop public-use airports.
According to WBIR.com, airport officials announced changes to infrastructure in May. The station also said the last concrete slab for a 10,000-foot runway is poured, but the project is not done.
“This grant continues the work with the Airfield Modernization Program including the runway. We appreciate the Congressman’s continued support of the airport,” the station quoted McGhee Tyson Airport spokesperson Becky Huckaby as saying.
The station went on to say that “according to the Federal Aviation Administration, 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 that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.”
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao reportedly said “the Department has been investing heavily in our nation’s airport infrastructure, which will strengthen economic growth and create jobs in communities across the country.”
According to the airport’s website, it is a public and military airport. The airport was named for United States Navy pilot Charles McGhee Tyson, who was lost on patrol in World War I.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “McGhee Tyson Airport” by McGhee Tyson Airport.
