“For many, our airports are the gateways to New York and a significant part of economic growth and job creation,” Governor Cuomo said. “This funding will help ensure that our airports remain more accessible and convenient for travelers and remain key economic drivers for years to come.”

Funding will be made available through a competitive process aimed at enhancing safety as well as the operational and economic health of the State’s commercial and general aviation airports. This investment will also leverage additional federal, state and local funding and will be used for projects that improve terminals and hangars, address safety conditions, and provide income-generating opportunities.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said, “The grants we are making available to airports under Governor Cuomo’s leadership will help ensure our facilities are safer and more secure. Infrastructure improvements also will boost efficiency, reliability and generate economic activity.”

The 2015 Airport Capital Grant Program is open to public-use airports that are part of the State Airport System Plan. All grants are subject to availability of program funds at the time of grant award.

This announcement comes on the heels of Governor Cuomo's plan to transform LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The airport will be modernized into a single, structurally unified main terminal with expanded transportation access, significantly increased taxiway space and best-in-class passenger amenities. Construction on the first half of the new unified terminal is expected to be a $4 billion project.

Applications for this new funding must be submitted by email by 8 p.m. on November 3 to aviation@dot.ny.gov.

Applications and instruction materials are available on Department of Transportation’s website at https://www.dot.ny.gov/aviationgrants.