The Beauregard Parish and Leesville airports will each be receiving $159,000 in federal funds from the 2022 Airport Infrastructure Grant program, which is aimed at assisting airports across the state in rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic problems.

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) announced the airport funding awards in late December, with officials reporting that 51 Louisiana airports will receive a total of nearly $35.7 million in funds. Airports across the nation will receive $2.89 billion from the infrastructure bill.

Both the Beauregard and Leesville airports will benefit greatly from the funds, which will come from the fiscal year 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Leesville Municipal Airport Manager Paul Jackson said the airport recently completed two major projects at the airport’s runway and turnabouts, and that the airport has been successfully conducting both inbound and outbound operations.

Jackson said there are not any projects the funds will assist with directly, but rather the funds will be used to assist the municipal airport recover from its loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.

“Things here at the airport are going great, and we are open for business,” Jackson said.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn D. Wilson said the investment will help continue the mission to improve aviation infrastructure “to ensure a safe, modern and well managed system of airports which provides convenient and efficient access to the state for tourism, commerce, industrial interests, recreation, and economic development.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 billion over the next five years for the aviation grant program, according to U.S. Department of Transportation officials.