Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Ford Airport

Ford Airport in Dickinson County will receive a federal grant of $867,427 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to purchase snow removal equipment and take other steps that will help improve the airport's ability to keep the runways and taxiways clear during bad weather, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today.

"Making sure residents, tourists, and business travelers are able to easily travel to and from the Upper Peninsula is vital to the region," Stabenow said. "This support will help ensure that Ford Airport can continue to keep people traveling safely and boost the local economy in Iron Mountain."

"Keeping Ford's airfield clear during a U.P. winter requires the right equipment and materials," Levin said. "This funding will help the airport purchase crucial snow removal equipment and make much needed upgrades to the storage buildings. These improvements will help keep Ford Airport operating safely during the winter."

The grant will fund a replacement snow removal loader with box plow, blower and broom. In addition, the funds will be used to relocate and enlarge the door for the sand and chemical storage building, improving access to the surface treatments by the snow removal equipment. The grant will also fund insulation and lighting improvements to the snow removal equipment storage building that will better protect the equipment from the elements.