FAA Renews Grant Paperwork for Billion-Dollar Airport Projects
Published Date: 5/23/2025
Notice
Summary
The FAA is renewing its info collection to pick which airport projects get funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This affects airports applying for competitive grants, with over $1 billion available each year for five years. If you want to share your thoughts, send comments by July 22, 2025!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Over $1 billion yearly for airport grants
The IIJA provides about $1,020,000,000 each year for five years to fund competitive airport projects. Of that, $1,000,000,000 per year is for the Airport Terminal Program and $20,000,000 per year is for the Airport-owned Contract Tower Program; unobligated funds converted in the fifth year first set aside $100,000,000 to augment the Contract Tower Program and the remainder go to the Airport Infrastructure Grant Funding Reallocation Program (AFR).
Who can apply and expected applicants
About 3,075 airports are eligible to compete for these IIJA funds, and the FAA expects approximately 655 airports to submit applications annually. Applications are submitted using FAA Form 5100-144.
Application time burden and frequency
Airports that apply will complete FAA Form 5100-144 annually; the FAA estimates an average burden of 6 hours per response, with about 655 respondents and an estimated total annual burden of 3,930 hours. The information collection is a renewal under OMB Control Number 2120-0806.
Required project narratives and priorities
Applicants must provide a project overview plus narratives addressing IIJA project consideration areas such as increasing terminal capacity and passenger access; replacing aging infrastructure; Americans with Disabilities Act compliance; improving access for historically disadvantaged populations; energy efficiency; airfield safety through terminal relocation; competition; National Airspace System impact; reducing emissions; reducing noise; and reducing dependence on the electrical grid.
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Key Dates
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