WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation will give nearly $14 million to airports in West Virginia to use for improvement projects.

The funding was revealed Wednesday in a joint announcement made by West Virginia's U.S. Senators, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

"As a pilot myself, I understand how crucial it is for us to maintain airport infrastructure. Our rural airports serve an important role in our communities and local economies so I am glad to see this funding head to Raleigh, Kanawha, Mercer and Greenbrier counties," Manchin said.

The funds will support projects of the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority, Raleigh County Airport Authority, Greenbrier County Airport Authority and Mercer County Airport Authority.

"Our local airports are important to the many communities they serve and to our state’s economy, and we must make necessary investments in these facilities so they can continue to operate safely and reliably," Capito said. "As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I worked to ensure local airports like the ones in Raleigh, Kanawha, Mercer, and Greenbrier counties receive the support they need to do just that, and I will continue to advocate for similar funding for airports across the state."

The awarded funds and projects they will be supporting are: 

  • $5,052,607 to the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority for a project for Yeager Airport’s runway safety area.
  • $3,850,000 to the Raleigh County Airport Authority for runway rehabilitation.
  • $3,678,409 to the Greenbrier County Airport Authority for projects involving apron rehabilitation and airport beacon installations.
  • $1,393,720 to the Mercer County Airport Authority for runway rehabilitation.