Rector receives grant for airport work

Rector, Piggott and Corning were among several Arkansas cities receiving airport improvement grants in a meeting of the Arkansas Board of Aeronautics held Thursday morning, March 19, at the IMAX Theater in Little Rock. Visiting after the meeting were, from left: Ron Kemp, Mayor of Rector; John Knight, Director of the Department of Aeronautics; Dewayne Phelan, Mayor of Corning; Gerald Morris, Mayor of Piggott; Mike Patterson, State Representative; Jon Moran, Governor's office staff; Charles Simmons of Rogers, Commissioner; Terry Allen of Piggott; Joe Jett of Success, Commissioner, and Bill Morgan of Paragould, Commission chairman. (Photo provided) [Click to enlarge]

Rector received a $328,590 grant for rehabilitation of the Rector Municipal Airport runway in a meeting of the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission held Thursday, March 19, at the IMAX Theater in Little Rock.

The 90/10 matching grant was the largest of 41 grants awarded in a total distribution of $3,500,920.

John Knight, director of the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, told Commissioners before the vote that Rector was in dire need of the funds in order to continue having an airport. While the grant originally was written at 80/20, Knight said when he flew to Rector with Gov. Mike Beebe following the late January ice storm, he knew immediately that the devastation and its required cleanup would drain the city of matching funds.

The grant also will pay for fencing and a gate for security.

State Representative Mike Patterson of Piggott received thanks and applause from the Commission and others present from around the state for his part in securing a supplemental appropriation of $4,000,000 from the Arkansas legislature.

Knight noted that nearly all of that amount was awarded to the airport facilities which made application. Aviation scholarships of $2,000 each went to Pulaski Technical College, Black River Technical College, Southern Arkansas University at Camden and Southern Arkansas University at Texarkana.

Piggott received a 90/10 grant of $250,830 for runway overlay, and Corning was awarded an 80/20 grant of $128,410 for runway rehabilitation.

Other grants went to Siloam Springs, Ozark Regional at Mountain Home, Little Rock National, Northwest Arkansas Regional at Fayetteville, Fayetteville Airport, Magnolia, Pine Bluff, Clarksville, Delta Regional at Colt (between Wynne and Forrest City), Crossett, South Arkansas Regional at El Dorado, Monticello, Waldron, Hazen, Saline County, Hope, Newport, Batesville, Ozark, Russellville, Mountain View, Star City, DeQueen, Texarkana, Carlisle, Searcy, Bentonville, Warren and Arkadelphia.