(Joplin, MO) — City of Joplin officials gathered with Joplin Airport Board members and community representatives during a rededication event at the Joplin Regional Airport on Thursday, December 9. The group gathered to recognize the completion of the airport’s main runway reconstruction.
During this past summer, Runway 18/36 was rebuilt, along with replacing adjacent runway lights. Following a brief program in the terminal, guests had the opportunity to taxi out to the newly reconstructed runway.
“Air service from Joplin Regional Airport is an important component for our business community as well as the leisure traveler,” said Mayor Pro Tem Keenan Cortez. “This project has created another opportunity for the airport to provide strong travel options for everyone in the Joplin metro area. We appreciate our federal legislators in their work to strengthen our air service industry. It’s an economic boost to have daily flights to strong hubs that travelers are seeking.”
The $14.5 million runway project was funded by a grant through the Airport Improvement Program of the Federal Aviation Administration. It was a multi-phased project as required by the FAA to match the funding cycles of the legislative appropriations. The first round of appropriations designated for design and planning was announced in 2018 by Congressman Billy Long. The construction component of the runway reconstruction was part of the 2020 FAA funding program.
The local match for this grant was approximately $600 thousand, and federal funding from the FAA and the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) provided $13.9 million for the project.
“This is a significant infrastructure project for southwest Missouri,” said Airport Manager Steve Stockam. “With much planning and coordinated implementation, crews rebuilt this runway in a short amount of time. The project provides a critical component for the air travel within our region. It also provided an economic stimulus for our area as federal dollars were utilized for its completion.”
To book a flight from Joplin Regional Airport, go to www.flyjoplin.com.
Reference:
Lynn Ontstot, Public Information Officer
City of Joplin
417.624.0820, ext. 1204
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