Detroit Lakes, Brainerd and Mahnomen Airports Receive Funding from Airport Infrastructure Grant Program

WASHINGTON D.C. (KDLM) – Airports in Detroit Lakes, Brainerd and Mahnomen are among more than 90 airports that will receive funding from a Federal Infrastructure Law.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award an estimated $59.3 million to Minnesota’s airports. The money can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.

Brainerd Lakes Regional airport will receive just over $1 million, while airports in Mahnomen and Detroit Lakes will each receive $159,000.

This is the first of five annual rounds of funding Minnesota airports will receive.

The money comes from the Airport Infrastructure Grant program, one of three new aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law provides $15 billion over five years for this program. The FAA estimates the backlog of airport modernization and safety projects totals $43.6 billion.