A grant award from the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) will 100%-fund the construction of eight corporate hangars at the Garrett County Airport.

 

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, both D-Md., jointly announced the DOT grant award last month.

This renovation project has been a priority for the community airport and has been included in the strategic improvement plan since 2015. The addition of eight hangars and a ramp directly into to McHenry Industrial Park were identified to better serve customers.

 

“Small airports are important hubs for connecting communities and businesses throughout Western Maryland,” Cardin said in a news release.

 

There are currently eight individual business owners, among 32 total aircraft, based at the Garrett County Airport.

 

“Customers cannot leave their aircrafts exposed to our weather but we have run out of space. We have a waiting list so planes can be based in McHenry,” said Airport Manager Ed Kelley.

 

This federal funding award is through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Supplemental Appropriation program. This program is designed to fund airport infrastructure projects that are “shovel-ready”.

 

“This funding will save the County over $300,000. This is money that was already allocated for improvements over the next few years but now the Commissioners can take that money out of the budget,” said Kelley.

 

The next phase of this project is estimated to go to bid in September 2019 with a proposed groundbreaking in the spring of 2020. The grant funds must be used within 1,464 days of the award notice.