CO Aeronautical Board Approves $7.3M Airport Funding

Watkins – Last week, the Colorado Aeronautical Board approved funding to improve local airport infrastructure, enhance safety, and support the transition to cleaner aviation fuels. The approved grants represent a strategic investment in the state’s 2020 Colorado Aviation System Plan goals, focusing on system viability, safety, and economic sustainability.

State and Local Grant Funding: Round Two

The Board approved three additional state and local grant applications totaling $1,089,000. These projects are funded entirely through state and local resources.

• Pavement Maintenance: Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport was awarded $450,000 for pavement maintenance on the airport’s primary taxiway.
• Unleaded Fuel Transition: Two airports were awarded $639,000 to support the transition to unleaded aviation fuel, reducing lead emissions in our communities.
  • Boulder Municipal Airport: $63,000 of state funds for unleaded fuel price subsidies.
  • Fremont County Airport: $576,000 of state funding for unleaded fuel infrastructure.
• Environmental Impact: Combined with previous approvals, the Division has now dedicated $973,800 this year to lessening lead impacts on communities, in alignment with Colorado House Bill 24-1235. This second round brings the total 2026 State and Local program to over $10.2 million in state funding, which, when combined with local matches, supports nearly $13.8 million in statewide projects.

Leveraging Federal Investment

In a separate action, the CAB also approved 30 federal match and overmatch grant applications totaling $6,260,820. These state funds are designed to help Colorado airports meet the local matching requirements necessary to access federal funding from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

• Financial Impact: This $6.2 million in state support will leverage approximately $172.8 million in planned federal funding.
• Overmatch Support: The Division continues to provide state funding for high-priority "overmatch" projects that are receiving additional federal funding, ensuring critical infrastructure needs are met.
• Project Investment: With the inclusion of local match components, these 30 airports are set to receive over $187 million in total project funding. Federal matching grant project examples include $551,499 of Division funding to the Burlington/Kit Carson County airport for access road improvements and airfield pavement maintenance and $921,315 to the Eagle County Regional Airport for the acquisition of a new aircraft rescue firefighting vehicle.

A comprehensive listing of all 2026 CDAG awards and projects can be found here.

A $200 Million Vision for Colorado Aviation

The cumulative impact of the 2026 CDAG program is substantial. By combining state, local, and federal contributions, the Division of Aeronautics is supporting a total investment of $200,952,044 into the state's airport system this year.

"These investments help ensure that Colorado’s airport system is safe, efficient and able to sustain the $68.9 billion annual economic impact this system enables," said David Ulane, Division Director.

The approved projects advance four primary CASP goals:

• Safety and Efficiency: Promoting safe facilities on and off airports.
• Access and Mobility: Ensuring the public has adequate access to the aviation system.
• Economic Sustainability: Supporting sustainable growth and Colorado's status as an aviation and aerospace leader.
• System Viability: Promoting fiscal responsibility and long-term asset preservation.

2026 Colorado Discretionary Aviation Grant program showing total amount of funding from state, local and federal entities.

More information can be found at Colorado-Aeronautics.org.

About the Division of Aeronautics

Under the Direction of the Colorado Aeronautical Board, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics supports Colorado's multi-modal transportation system by advancing a safe, efficient, and effective statewide aviation system through collaboration, investment and advocacy. In partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, 76 public-use airports and a diverse group of aviation system users, the Division also works to promote aviation safety and education through the efficient administration of the Colorado Aviation Fund. For more information, visit Colorado-Aeronautics.org or check us out on YouTube, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.