GUNTERSVILLE, Alabama - The Guntersville Municipal Airport -
Joe Starnes Field announced Wednesday it has been awarded nearly $6.3 million
in funding for its airport expansion project, which includes realigning and
extending the runway.
Officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the project at 3 p.m. Friday on 20524 U.S. 431 in Guntersville. Grant DeMuth, director of economic development for the city of Guntersville, said a $5 million federal Department of Transportation discretionary grant was made possible by support from Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville.
-Mockup of the Guntersville airport runway extension project. -Contributed by the city of Guntersville-
Additional funding from the Federal Aviation Administration brought the total amount of funding to almost $6.3 million. More than $6 million has already been spent on the expansion, including the initial engineering and land acquisition phase. In addition to the runway expansion, new hangars will be installed along with the development of a new fixed base operator facility and an updated airport master plan.
North Alabama Mountain Lakes region, already robust seaplane community and expected growth with economic development from 428 acre Conners Island Business Park will benefit from new capabilities of the future 5,000 foot runway and airport improvements. -Staff report, FMI: City of Guntersville