Program Changes May Alter Airport Plans for Conway

Due to recent changes to federal and state grant programs, Conway will likely have to modify its plans for the under-construction Conway Municipal Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration initially committed to providing 95 percent of about $20 million to pay for the new airport’s taxiways and runway, to be matched with 5 percent in local funds.

When the Conway project began in 2010, the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics commonly offered 5 percent matching grants for 95 percent federally funded projects. Conway should still receive that 5 percent from the state.

However, the FAA this year reduced its grants to 90 percent, even for projects in progress. And in mid-April, the ADA announced that because of reduced revenue, the Aeronautics Commission was cutting funds for projects not receiving FAA grants.

Should both federal and state cuts take effect as announced, Conway will have to shoulder more of the total project costs than planned and will likely be forced to eliminate amenities in its current design, said senior project manager Earl Mott from Garver LLC of North Little Rock. Garver is the project engineer.

Conway was seeking about $2.5 million in state grants.