Eleven airports across Arkansas have received a combined $6.5 million in federal funds to make upgrades to their facilities, the state's congressional delegation announced Wednesday.
More than half of the funds — about $3.4 million — will go to the Texarkana Regional Airport to rehabilitate its runway.
Saline County Regional Airport in Benton and Newport Municipal Airport, meanwhile, are each getting more than $500,000 in the Department of Transportation funds, which across the 11 airports support improvements to runways, lighting, signs and more.
In a joint statement from Arkansas' two senators and four representatives, Sen. Tom Cotton applauded the funds and called the airports "a critical part of Arkansas's infrastructure system." Sen. John Boozman said airports are part of infrastructure "vital for local commerce and and private sector job growth."
“Arkansas will benefit from these airport improvements because they will help accommodate future development throughout the state," he added.
Also receiving funds were: the Sharp County Regional Airport in Ash Flat, the Clarendon Municipal Airport, the Clinton Municipal Airport, the Corning Municipal Airport, the De Witt Municipal Airport, the Russellville Regional Airport, the Searcy Municipal Airport and the Waldron Municipal Airport.