CHILLICOTHE — Ongoing improvements at Ross County’s Shoemaker Airport got a fresh boost of federal funding this week to help move it along.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown announced Monday that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $362,615 to the Ross County commissioners to be used to rehabilitate the parallel taxiway pavement and improve runway visual guidance markers at the airport.
“These improvements will enhance safety at the Ross County Airport,” Brown said. “These federal dollars will go a long way in sustaining safe travel in and out of the airport for area residents and businesses.”
Ross County Commissioner Doug Corcoran said the funding will be used toward the second phase of the airport improvementproject, which county officials hope will be completed sometime this fall. About 90 percent of the project funds are coming from federal dollars, with a 10 percent local match.
The airport has received more than $1.2 million in FAA funds in recent years to help rehabilitate and improve the airport’s taxiway.
Last October, the commissioners advanced$100,000 to the airport to finish the last third of runway resurfacing work, which was completed during the summer.
“It’s a tremendous benefit to Ross County,” Corcoran said of Monday’s announcement. “We think it’s very beneficial.”
The airport averages about 20,000 takeoffs and landings each year and is hoping to boost that number in the future. It is used for everything from a convenient place to land for executives from Ross County manufacturing facilities and political candidates campaigning in sourthern Ohio to hauling freight.
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