Brainerd airport gets federal funds

The Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport was awarded federal funding totaling nearly $1.5 million for a variety of improvements, Congressman Jim Oberstar announced Monday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation funds will be used for a larger aircraft rescue and firefighting rescue vehicle, road and fencing improvements and changes to the passenger terminal.

The airport will get $804,600 to purchase the aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle, conduct environmental mitigation and acquire permits for a new carrier runway and to install an emergency generator for airfield lighting. The airport also will receive $614,250 to expand the passenger terminal vehicle parking lot, to alter the airport entrance road, and to install deer fencing and conduct a wildlife assessment. The airport will receive $76,500 to modify the passenger terminal building so passengers may be screened before boarding instead of at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The grants are part of $5.3 million in funding that was awarded to northern Minnesota airports.