BISMARCK – Minot International Airport was awarded $887,773 in state funds toward projects to improve runways, taxiways, an apron, ditch stabilization and wildlife hazard mitigation, according to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

The commission announced it finalized and approved about $19.2 million in state infrastructure grant allocations for public airports across North Dakota. The investments will support critical maintenance, safety and development projects at both commercial service and general aviation airports, helping strengthen the long-term reliability and performance of the state’s aviation system.

The funding comes as North Dakota continues to experience strong demand for air travel, with statewide airline passenger activity reaching record levels in recent years, the commission noted.

Of the total allocation, about $12.6 million will support major infrastructure projects at North Dakota’s commercial service airports, while about $6.6 million has been awarded for projects at general aviation airports. In total, 191 individual projects at 63 public-use airports received funding through this state grant round.

State aviation grant funding also plays a critical role in leveraging substantial federal investments available through programs such as the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Airport Infrastructure Grants and the Airport Terminal Program. By providing the required local and state matching funds, these investments help North Dakota communities maximize federal participation in airport infrastructure improvements.

“North Dakota’s airports are essential to the state’s economy, connectivity and quality of life,” said Kyle Wanner, director of the N.D. Aeronautics Commission, in the grant funding announcement. “These investments will help communities maintain safe and reliable infrastructure, support continued growth in air travel and aviation activity, and ensure that our airport system remains well-positioned to serve North Dakota’s needs for many years to come.”

The Williston airport received $140,807 toward pavement maintenance, constructing a public hangar and purchasing snow removal equipment.

Area general aviation airports receiving funds for federal projects were:

– Bottineau, $4,781 toward design of new public T-hangars, replacing beacon and vault foundations.

– Crosby, $27,376 for runway lighting system and construction of public hangars.

– Garrison, $15,425 toward rehabbing the terminal.

– Rugby, $45,678 toward airfield pavement rehabilitation.

– Stanley, $1,202 toward design of airfield seal coat.

– Tioga, $1,221 for parallel taxiway and Direct Access Fix.

– Watford City, $1,399 toward purchase of snow removal equipment.

Receiving funds for rubber crack fill and seal coating were Garrison, $26,586; Harvey, $50,670; Mohall, $24,533; and Parshall, $28,682.

Receiving funds for non-federal projects were:

– Bottineau, $25,202 toward runway lighting bulbs, beacon and windcone replacement.

– Crosby, $129,710 toward constructing a public hangar.

– Garrison $182,400 for rehabbing terminal.

– Harvey, $1,080 for replacing weather sensor

– Kenmare, $39,382 toward taxiway and taxilane construction, runway replacement and snow removal equipment building boiler.

– New Town, $17,133 toward design of runway extension and GPS approach maintenance agreement.

– Parshall, $16,775 toward weather camera system and upgrade fuel system card reader.

– Rolla, $14,952 toward supplemental windcone.

– Rugby, $22,927 toward airfield pavement rehabilitation, airport beacon replacement, runway replacement and truck repair.

– Stanley, $14,276 toward snow removal and operational equipment, upgrade to fuel system card reader.

– Tioga, $13,588 toward snow removal equipment.

– Watford City, $7,744 toward weather camera system.

– Westhope, $7,621 toward weather camera system.

Major state funding sources include $14 million from the Airport Infrastructure Fund, created under the 2019 Operation Prairie Dog legislation using oil and gas tax revenues, and $4.7 million from the N.D. Aeronautics Commission’s Special Fund, primarily supported by state aviation fuel and aircraft sales tax revenues.