Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raul M. Grijalva today congratulated Yuma International Airport for receiving a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for facility rehabilitations and repairs.The grant will extend the useful life of the existing pavement, upgrade the parking area and fund drainage improvement efforts.

“The airport is becoming more important to Yuma’s economy every year, and these repairs are essential to maintain the airport’s usefulness to the people and businesses of the Yuma area,” Grijalva said. “All pilots, including small private aircraft owners, corporate aircraft and the military jet fighters that visit the civilian side of the airfield,will appreciate the upgrade and benefit from these funds.”

Bill Gresser, President of the Yuma County Airport Authority, said airport officials have “been working hard to improve our aging infrastructure, and this grant is arriving just in time. These kinds of repairs are expensive, and grants like this one enable us to meet those costs.”

“This grant accomplishes double duty,” Grijalvasaid. “It not only increases the airport’s capacity to handle traffic, it injects money into the local economy directly and creates jobs. I thank the airport for putting these funds to good use and helping the people of Yuma.”

The Airport Authority plans to replace a large percentage of the aircraft parking apron on the west side of the airport. Construction is expected to start within the next few weeks and is expected to finish this fall.

For more information, call Craig Williams at Yuma International Airport at (928) 726-5882.