Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) wasjoined by Mayor Mike Nicholson, State Senator Peter Durant, State Representative Jon Zlotnik, Gardner City Council President Lizzy Kazinskas, Councillor Ron Cormier, and Gardner Airport Manager Isabelle Davis as well as officials from the Federal Aviation Administration, and MassDOT to highlight $5,052,810 in federal funding that has supported major renovations and the re-opening of the Gardner Municipal Airport.

“We passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in projects and communities that haven’t seen upgrades and repairs in decades – and the Gardner Municipal Airport is no exception. I’m proud of the over $5 million in federal investments in long overdue runway reconstruction, masterplan development, and administrative building renovations,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The re-opening of the Gardner Airport will undoubtedly drive tourism, stimulate the local economy, and create more jobs. I’m grateful to Mayor Nicholson and our local partners for their commitment to leveraging federal funds to invest in infrastructure and economic development initiatives, and I’m confident Gardner families will feel these investments for years to come.”

The projects supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include a full excavation and reconstruction of the asphalt runway and taxiway for the first time since the 1970s. Prior to the repairs, asphalt cracks had made the runway nearly unusable. Major improvements were also made to the Gardner Municipal Airport’s administrative building’s interior. The Gardner Airport resumed operations on December 20th, 2023, reopening a major avenue of tourism for the city.

“We have done a lot in the last three years to invest in our infrastructure in Gardner, and this continues that work. We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to have all of our facilities, including our airport, operating at maximum efficiency. That means being diligent about its upkeep, proactive in our investments in its future and how we can expand the services we provide to its patrons, and cognizant of opportunities for federal and state funding when they become available, said Mayor Nicholson. “This is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal governments all work together for a common goal. I cannot thank Congresswoman Trahan enough for the strong partner she has been to making these projects a reality in Gardner.” 

Of the $5,052,810 total, the vast majority of the funding was made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Trahan voted for in November of 2021. Specifically, the airport received $4,842,000 through the Airport Improvement Program in 2022, and an additional $149,810 through the program in 2023 – both funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The airport previously received an additional $30,000 through a 2020 CARES Act Airport Grant, $9,000 through a 2021 CRRSA Airport Coronavirus Response Grant, and $22,000 through a 2022 ARPA Airport Coronavirus Response Act Grant.

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