Money Will Pay For Taxiway Rehabilitation Project

Griffiss Airport (KRME) will receive a long-awaited $5.3 million grant from the FAA via the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The funding was authorized over a year ago when the FAA authorized the County’s design specifications for runway infrastructure and safety improvements, but until recently was not cleared by FAA.

The announcement of the release of the grant monies was made jointly by U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Tuesday. Schumer said he has been pushing the FAA to quickly release the allocated funding that the County was promised, so that it could move forward with its first phase of taxiway rehabilitation on time.

“It’s great news that the Griffiss Airport and Oneida County will now receive the long-awaited $5.3 million in Federal Aviation Administration funding, on which runway improvements and approximately 50 construction jobs rely,” said Schumer. “I pushed the FAA to release this previously allocated investment that was being held up so that the Griffiss Airport runway and safety improvements would not be further delayed, and I’m pleased to have helped this revitalizing construction project move forward. The airport is an economic engine for the Mohawk Valley, and these funds are the motor oil that helps keep it running strong.”

“We appreciate the support of the Federal Aviation Administration and their work to get this money to Oneida County,” said County Executive Picente. “The transformation that is taking place at Griffiss is a critical piece of our economic development strategy. Through the work of Sen. Schumer, Congressman Hanna, our County Board of Legislators, and all of our partners, we are maximizing the potential of this asset and moving forward into a new era of opportunity.”

“(This) announcement represents another significant step forward for Griffiss airport and all of Upstate New York.  Griffiss is among the region’s best assets and these investments are critical to its success and ability to leverage economic development,” said Congressman Richard Hanna

Oneida County and Griffiss Airport received news of the federal funding through the Airport Improvement Program last year, and since then, the County has put out bids for the construction of the runway project. Oneida County needed the funding to be allocated within the month in order to avoid reentering the entire bidding process all over again, which would have delayed this revitalizing project. This construction work is expected to spur the hiring of 50 people in Oneida County

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ocgov.net/airport