The Rugby general aviation airport was awarded $14,766 from state infrastructure grants allocated to public airports across North Dakota, according to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

The airport was allotted $2,498 for design of airfield pavement rehabilitation, $7,116 to install a Federal Aviation Administration weather camera system and $5,152 for 2024 crack sealing, which supplements $23,507 awarded last year.

Rugby had requested $5,152 extra toward last year’s $31,843 crack seal project to receive the full state cost-share of 90%. State funds will cover half the cost of the $14,232 weather camera. The airfield pavement rehabilitation total cost is estimated at $99,937, and state funds will provide the required match for federal dollars on that project.

The aeronautics commission approved $81.6 million in state infrastructure grant allocations for public airports. It included $78.1 million for commercial airports and $3.5 million for general aviation airports.

“These investments position our state to support continued growth in air cargo, agricultural aviation, pilot training, emergency services and commercial air travel. By strategically leveraging state funds with federal allocations from the FAA, we are committed to enhancing airport facilities that serve the citizens of North Dakota,” Kim Kenville, chairman of the aeronautics commission, said in a new release.

The state funds include $70.3 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund, $5.9 million from the Airport Infrastructure Fund, created under the 2019 Operation Prairie Dog legislation, and $5.4 million from the aeronautics commission’s Special Fund, which is primarily supported by state aviation fuel and aircraft sales tax revenues.