Fresno airport receives $20.8 million federal grant for terminal expansion
A number of San Joaquin Valley airports including Fresno-Yosemite International were awarded federal grants for improvements to runways and other infrastructure, state leaders said on Thursday.
Fresno-Yosemite International Airport received the third-largest grant — $20.8 million — to expand its terminal.
The Fresno airport has moved through multiple phases of improvements. The latest grant is specifically for construction of the passenger security screening checkpoint, reconstruction of 9,539 feet of existing paved runway and other improvements, according to the announcement by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
The news from California leaders comes at the same time that federal funding has become a flashpoint. Fresno and several other cities and counties joined in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, which has threatened to withhold money approved by Congress over so-called “woke” language in city plans for spending.
Federal department heads have said the funding would be withheld if Fresno did not remove “gender ideology,” “environmental justice,” transgender references and other wording.
The lawsuit brought by Fresno asks a judge to intercede and prevent any loss of grants.
“If Fresno does not accept the FAA’s newly imposed conditions and submit its reimbursement request by the end of September, more than $13 million in already allocated and expended grant funds will lapse, leaving Fresno unable to recover those funds,” the lawsuit says.
Seventy-two airports were awarded federal dollars this week, and 69 of them were small airports from throughout the state.
Chowchilla was awarded about $6.6 million for a runway safety improvement project and for reconstruction. Madera’s pavement improvement project was awarded $575,500.
Merced County pulled in about $208,000 to replace a rotating beacon, update the automated weather monitor and install lights. The city of Gustine will get $57,000 to expand fuel access.
Three larger airports in the state — Oakland International, San Jose International and San Diego International — will together receive about $26.5 million. A complete list of recipients was posted on Padilla’s Senate website.
The funding comes primarily from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Airport Improvement Program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was established under the administration of President Joe Biden, and the Airport Improvement Program has existed since the 1980s.
The Sacramento Bee contributed to this story.
