State Senators Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) today announced the Smyrna Airport will receive a $80,000 grant for upgrading security at the Smyrna Airport in Rutherford County.  The $76,000 state grant will be matched with $4,000 locally and was recommended through the Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics.

 

“Security upgrades at our airports are very important,” said Senator Ketron.  “I am very pleased that these funds will be available.”

 

Except for routine expenditures, grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state Airport System Plan. The board carefully reviews all applications for grants to ensure that the proper state and local matching funds are in place and that the grants will be used for needed improvements.

 

“We must continue to improve airport infrastructure statewide,” said Senator Tracy, who is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.   “Airport accessibility is very important to our state’s ability to draw new jobs to our communities.”