Colorado Aeronautical Board Approves State Airport Funding

WATKINS – Colorado’s Aeronautical Board has unanimously approved state and locally-funded discretionary aviation grants for the state’s airports for Fiscal Year 2021. The decision authorizes the distribution of nearly $862,000 in state aviation fuel tax revenues to four public-use airports.   

The grants range from $40,218 to $346,500.  These grants represent Colorado’s participation in airport pavement maintenance and infrastructure improvements.  The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced air travel and the fuel sales tax collections that support the Aviation Grant Program. As a result, $5.9 million in state aviation grants to 14 airports that had been programmed for FY 2021 have been postponed.

“The Colorado Division of Aeronautics is committed to supporting Colorado’s multi-modal transportation system by assisting Colorado’s airports through the funding of critical projects.  We were disappointed to have to make drastic reductions to our FY2021 state and local grant program, but doing so will preserve the long-term financial sustainability of our Aviation Fund,” said Colorado Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division Director David Ulane.

“Colorado’s Aeronautical Board is pleased to approve these critical airport grants that continue to raise the bar of our state’s aviation and airport infrastructure,” said CAB Chairman Kenneth Maenpa. “The collaboration between the CAB and the Division staff is first-class, allowing us to strategically direct very limited airport funding where it’s needed most.”

Colorado legislation was created 1991 to develop and maintain the Colorado Aviation System through taxes collected on aviation fuel sold within the state. There are no general funds used to meet the needs within the Colorado Aviation System. It is funded solely through the taxes collected by those actually using the aviation system.

The state’s airport system consists of 76 public-use airports that support 345,661 jobs, provide $16.2 billion in annual payroll, $27 billion in value-added, and $48.6 billion in total annual business revenue for Colorado.

Colorado’s Discretionary Aviation Grant Program is administered by CDOT’s Division of Aeronautics. More information can be found at Colorado-Aeronautics.org.

About CDOT's Division of Aeronautics

Under the Direction of the Colorado Aeronautical Board, the CDOT's Division of Aeronautics supports Colorado's multi-modal transportation system by advancing a safe, efficient, and effective statewide air and space system through collaboration, investment and advocacy. In partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, 76 public-use airports and a diverse group of aviation system users, the Division also works to promote aviation safety and education through the efficient administration of the Colorado Aviation Fund.  For more information, check us out on YouTube, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.