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$1M grant secured for new terminal

06/12/2008

Thfe city of Monroe has secured a $1 million Federal Aviation Administration grant toward construction of a new ter¬minal at Monroe Regional Airport.

Fifth U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, who requested the grant, said he ex-pects more funding to follow.

"Northeastern Louisiana's economic engine depends on that airport," said Alexander, R-Quitman, who also se-cured a $400,000 appropriation for the $35 million project last year. "It's too im¬portant a project not to get done."

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo called the airport the city's top priority among fed¬eral projects.

"It is outstanding news to learn that this project has been awarded a $1 mil¬lion grant from the Federal Aviation Ad¬ministration," Mayo said. "This is our link to the rest of the country and the world."

Mayo is among a 10-person contin-gent in Washington this week as part of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce's summer lobbying trip.

Chamber President Sue Nicholson said the airport is among the region's most valuable assets.

"It's used daily by the business com-munity, as well as the leisure traveler," Nicholson said. "Not only will the new terminal make travel more efficient, but it will also project a much better image of our community. Our airport is often our community's first impression."

The city now has secured about $2.4 million in federal funding with another $8 million in bonding capability through an airport passenger facility charge.

"Enhancing and strengthening Mon¬roe Regional Airport in order to achieve the full economic benefits this airport can bring to the region is a goal we have shared and worked toward to-gether for some time," Alexander said. "And this funding will help provide the means to begin the much-anticipated process of building a new terminal."