CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $6.9 MILLION FOR LAREDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Apr 2, 2010, 0 Comments
Federal funds to assist with improvements to aircraft parking area, noise mitigation efforts, and for purchase of rescue fire truck
Courtesy Eddie Zavala,
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar and Mayor Raul G. Salinas today announced $6,948,629 for the Laredo International Airport. The total amount comes from three separate grants the Federal Aviation Administration is awarding.
The money will be used for improvements to the aircraft parking area, reimbursement for the purchase of a rescue and fire fighting truck, and for noise mitigation projects. In addition, the funds will also be used to evaluate potential wildlife hazards to aircraft on airport property.
“As one the most important international airports in the country — both for cargo and passengers traffic — I congratulate the City of Laredo for once again being successful in securing more federal funds,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Competing for grants from the Federal Aviation Administration is not easy, and the fact that the City received three grants at once speaks highly of how the City is regarded by F.A.A. officials.”
Specifically, the City of Laredo received $4 million to help mitigate noise in the residential areas located south of the airport. It is expected that 122 families will benefit from this grant. Since inception of the noise mitigation program in 1998, the City and the Federal Aviation Administration will have invested $39,874,226 to mitigate airport noise on residential properties.
The second grant, which totals $2,803,000, will be used to reconstruct a portion of the aircraft parking area located in front of the proposed Federal Inspection facility that will be used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and for reimbursement to the City of Laredo for the purchase of a rescue and firefighting truck.
The third grant of $145,629 will be used to evaluate potential wildlife hazards to aircraft on airport property.
“This grant will have an everlasting impact in the lives of the many residents who will benefit from this money,” said Mayor Salinas. “And a lot of it is due in part to the efforts of Congressman Cuellar. He rolls up his sleeves, works very hard for us, and the money we receive today is the fruit of his labor.”
