State Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) said Tuesday they have been informed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that a major grant has been approved for the Smyrna Airport.  The $978,255 grant, when combined with a $51,487 local match, will total $1,029,742.  It was recommended through the Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics.

“I am very pleased that this grant has been awarded,” said Senator Ketron.  “It will be used for paving, marking and lighting taxi lanes for the new aviation development area.  I also congratulate our local officials who were instrumental in helping to secure these funds.”

Except for routine expenditures, grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state Airport System Plan. The board carefully reviews all applications for grants to ensure that the proper state and local matching funds are in place and that the grants will be used for needed improvements.

“Airports are a vital part of our infrastructure,” said Senator Tracy, who is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.  “Infrastructure is a very important factor in our efforts to create new and better paying jobs for our citizens.”

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