by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $4.5 million in federal stimulus money to Arkansas airports, including $4.38 million to Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill. U.S. Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, and Steve Womack, R-Rogers, announced Friday (Feb. 26) the grants will help to offset costs and maintain jobs as a result of COVID-19 and provide for increased sanitization to combat the spread of pathogens at airports.
The DOT, through the Federal Aviation Administration, will give the money appropriated through the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, which Congress approved in December. All federal legislators from Arkansas supported the act.
Grant recipients and amounts include:
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), $4,382,255
Rogers Executive Airport – Carter Field, $91,162
De Witt Municipal Airport/Whitcomb Field in Arkansas County, $13,000
Thompson-Robbins Airport in Phillips County, $9,000
Delta Regional Airport in St. Francis County, $13,000
Walnut Ridge Regional Airport in Lawrence County, $13,000