Jonesboro airport to receive $5 million in federal aid to extend runway

The city of Jonesboro will receive a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for an extension of the Jonesboro airport runway, Mayor Harold Copenhaver said.

Copenhaver and other city officials worked with U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and his office to secure funding for the runway extension.

A timetable for completing the extension was not released along with the construction company that will do the work.

The funding was included in the end-of-year spending package passed by the U.S. House and Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also voted for the omnibus funding package that included this aid, but U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, opposed it.

“I would like to thank Sen. Boozman and his staff, for this could not have happened without their work,” Copenhaver said. “We look forward to working with our entire D.C. delegation because as Jonesboro grows, our transportation needs will continue to expand, and this funding will pay off economic dividends in the near and distant future.”