Culbertson, Poplar Receive MDT Funding
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Aeronautics Board approved over $2.85 million in funding during its Helena meeting Jan. 17-18.
The requests were for a variety of improvement projects that focused on runway, taxiway and apron reconstruction, master plans, lighting enhancements, land easements, perimeter fencing, building construction and snow removal and weather equipment.
A portion of the money awarded in grants and loans each year goes to leverage 90/10 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) match dollars for large airport construction projects. More than $4.3 million was requested by 31 public-use airports across the state.
The board awarded funds for 58 of 69 different project requests for 27 of Montana’s public airports, to include federally and non-federally funded projects.
The projects funded for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 include Culbertson’s Big Sky Field, with a grant to rehabilitate the main building in the amount of $29,000 and $7,250 in loans.
Glasgow’s Wokal Field will receive $30,005 in grants for runway lighting project.
The Poplar Municipal Airport will receive approximately $27,000 in grants and $3,400 in loans for runway work.
Other area airports include Scobey and Sidney, with will receive approximately $20,000 and $370,000 respectively.
Any public airport is eligible to apply for assistance through the loan and grant program. Funds can be used for a wide variety of airport and aviation related projects. Applications for the funding are due for submission to MDT’s Aeronautics Division on Nov. 15 each year, and the money is typically awarded in January of the following year.
Although the money is awarded in January, the funds are not available until the beginning of the next fiscal year which is July 1.
During the meeting, the Montana Aeronautics board reviews the applications and takes public comment before making final award determinations for the upcoming fiscal year.
For more information regarding the program, please contact Karen Hallenbeck, MDT Aeronautics Division, at khallenbeck@mt.gov or call 406-444-9581.
