ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) – Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state is distributing $20.7 million in funding to airports across New York State, including $3.1 million for airports in the Southern Tier.

The funding will be used to “enhance safety, facilitate innovation, leverage existing resources, advance business development, and promote sustainability and resilience at these facilities”. It is administered through the New York State Department of Transportation through the Aviation Capital Investment Program. The state says investments such as these will help make local communities more “economically competitive” with neighboring states.

"New York continues to make targeted investments in all transportation infrastructure that will enhance safety; strengthen communities; and create and sustain new and existing, well-paying jobs," New York State Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. "These aviation grants specifically support projects that will serve to make our local communities more economically competitive - regionally and globally."  

The $3.1 million funding is going to the Greater Binghamton Airport, the Lt. Warren E. Airport in Chenango County, the Corning-Painted Post Airport and the Elmira Corning Regional Airport for the following projects:

•             $1.5 million toward installation of energy-efficient lighting and replacement of the revenue control system at the Greater Binghamton Airport in Broome County.  

•             $200,000 toward energy efficiency Jet Hangar improvements, including high-efficiency heating and LED lighting and general hangar rehabilitation activities at the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport in Chenango County.  

•             $100,000 toward the acquisition of service equipment to maintain operations during inclement weather events at the Corning-Painted Post Airport in Steuben County.  

•             $1.3 million toward reconstruction of an existing building into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility to retain international passenger flights at the Elmira Corning Regional Airport in Chemung County.