Released on May 4, 2012
Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter announced today 15 airports have been approved for grants through the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program, which is designed to help offset costs for upgrades.
"I'm very pleased the provincial portion of the 50-50 cost sharing initiative will remain at $700,000 this year after being increased 40 per cent last year to meet the demand of this program," Reiter said. "By partnering with communities, we're ensuring a network of airports with dependable infrastructure is in place to enhance economic development in sectors like tourism, oil and gas and agriculture as well as assist in delivering air ambulance, medivac and STARS emergency services."
The approved funding amounts and planned projects for 15 community airports are as follows:
- Assiniboia, $25,000 for Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS);
- *Biggar, $25,000 for runway repairs;
- *Birch Hills, $25,000 for runway and apron crack sealing;
- Estevan, $131,231 for rehabilitation of the main apron;
- *Gravelbourg, $66,500 for lighting, taxiway and apron repairs resurfacing;
- Lucky Lake, $45,000 for crack seal runway, asphalt repairs and repainting runway lines;
- Maple Creek, $21,629 for runway and tarmac resurfacing, and repainting runway lines;
- *Melfort, $22,000 for a GPS system;
- North Battleford, $25,000 for runway repairs;
- Rural Municipality of Frontier, $2,690 for repainting runway lines;
- Shaunavon, $35,313 for slurry seal and paint runway lines;
- Swift Current, $32,500 for pavement overlays and perimeter fence;
- Unity, $37,500 for runway repaving;
- Weyburn, $40,000 for completion of runway recapping; and
- Yorkton, $165,637 for runway and taxiway repairs, drainage rehabilitation, fencing, apron and taxiway expansion.
*Denotes: communities that have not received CAP funding in the past
"We appreciate the support from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure and the various communities through this program," Saskatchewan Aviation Council President Janet Keim said. "Aviation plays an important role in the transportation sector and the Community Airport Partnership program assists in improving the overall safety at these airports."
Eligible airports were able to apply for this provincial program funding for projects supporting economic development, general access to surrounding communities, air ambulances, commercial operations and aviation safety.
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For more information, contact:
Steve Shaheen
Highways and Infrastructure
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-5641
Janet Keim
Saskatchewan Aviation Council
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-244-6714