QC Airport Awarded $2.86 million in first round federal funding
December 28, 2021
The Quad Cities International Airport will receive an initial $2.86 million as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The airport will likely use this funding to purchase crucial snow removal equipment. Any remaining funding will go toward the airport’s major terminal renovation plan, Project GATEWAY.
“We have an obligation not only to the FAA but to our travelers to keep our airport safe and operational during snow events which is why snow removal equipment is absolutely imperative,” said Benjamin Leischner, A.A.E., executive director, Quad Cities International Airport. “The machines are large, complex and are run through some of the harshest conditions so having enough machines and parts can help save on costly maintenance and help reduce delays or cancellations of flights.”
The airport is seeking to replace or purchase a variety of equipment, including a rotary snowblower, plow trucks, runway snow brooms and more. Salt cannot be used on airport runways because it is corrosive and can create flying object debris (FOD) which poses a safety hazard to aircraft. A fleet of equipment is used instead to properly clear snow and ice.
Although the funds have been announced, airports do not yet know when they will be received. The airport has roughly $120 million over the next 5 years of capital investment need. A significant portion will be federally appropriated.
More than 3,000 airports in the U.S. received grants totaling $2.89 billion for fiscal year 2022. The funds, which were determined based upon an airport’s size and activity, may be used for runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, terminal development, airport-transit connections, and roadway projects. More than $25 billion has been designated for airports in the BIL, including $5 billion in competitive grants for airport terminal projects. The QC Airport will aggressively apply for competitive grants to support Project GATEWAY.