Governor Kelly announces over $14M for 47 aviation projects across Kansas
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced Thursday $14.5 million for 47 aviation projects across the state through the Kansas Airport Improvement Program (KAIP), which provides funding for planning, construction, and rehabilitation of public-use general aviation airports.
“The Kansas aerospace industry is an essential part of our state’s economy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Keeping our aviation infrastructure in optimal condition is a large part of that economic growth and job creation, allowing local businesses and communities to prosper.”
Airport projects in southeast Kansas include funding for projects at Allen County Airport in Iola, Atkinson Municipal Airport in Pittsburg; Johnson Airport in Chanute; Municipal Airport in Fort Scott; and Tri-City Airport in Parsons.
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation received 81 applications seeking a combined total project value of more than $42 million for this round of KAIP grants. Projects were selected from across the state and focused on pavement preservation, safety, and air ambulance accessibility to remote communities.
“Combining state and local funds to provide vital improvements to general aviation airports has helped to create a statewide aviation network citizens can depend on,” said Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed. “This offers more services, like air ambulance accessibility, that can help support transportation needs in all areas of Kansas.”
The KAIP receives $15 million annually through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE) and requires local matching funds of 10-50%, depending on the project. With local matching funds for these projects, the KAIP total project value this year is $22.9 million.
Approved state FY 2026 KAIP projects:
Allen County Airport, Iola
Anthony Municipal Airport, Anthony
Atkinson Municipal Airport, Pittsburg
Atwood-Rawlins County City—County Airport, Atwood
Chanute Martin Johnson Airport, Chanute
Cheyenne County Municipal Airport, Saint Francis
Clay Center Municipal Airport, Clay Center
Clyde Cessna Field, Kingman
Comanche County Airport
Cook Airfield, Rose Hill
Dighton Airport, Dighton
Emporia Municipal Airport, Emporia
Fort Scott Municipal Airport, Fort Scott
Freeman Field, Junction City
Garnett Municipal Airport, Garnett
Gove County Airport, Quinter
Great Bend Municipal Airport, Great Bend
Greensburg Municipal Airport, Greensburg
Independence Municipal Airport, Independence
Jetmore Municipal Airport, Jetmore
Johnson County Airport, Olathe
Kearny County Airport, Lakin
Lawrence Regional Airport, Lawrence
Lt. William M. Milliken Airport, Eureka
Mankato Airport, Mankato
Marion Municipal Airport, Marion
Mark Hoard Memorial Airport, Leoti
McPherson Airport, McPherson
Miami County Airport, Paola
Mid-America Regional Airport, Liberal
Ness City Municipal Airport, Ness City
New Century Air Center, Olathe
Newton City-County Airport, Newton
Oakley Municipal Airport, Oakley
Osborne Municipal Airport, Osborne
Pratt Regional Airport, Pratt
Scott City Municipal Airport, Scott City
Shalz Field, Colby
Stanton County Municipal Airport, Johnson
Syracuse-Hamilton County Airport, Syracuse
Tri-City Airport, Parsons
Wellington Municipal Airport, Wellington
