DEBORD, Ky. – U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers, a principal officer of SOAR, announced a $4.4 million grant has been awarded to the Big Sandy Regional Airport in Martin County by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The funding will be used to extend the runway and runway safety area in Debord, Kentucky. 

“You know what they say, ‘no plane, no gain,’ and that’s especially true in our rural area, where access is vital for job creation and economic development,” said Congressman Rogers. “This runway expansion not only improves safety, but will allow larger planes to land at the Big Sandy Regional Airport, bringing more air traffic to the nearby industrial park and into our region.”  

This news comes on the heels of a recent announcement by Congressman Rogers and Governor Matt Bevin who flew into the airport on Monday, May 6th with Dr. Michael Benson, President of Eastern Kentucky University, to announce a new Aviation Mechanics Technician (AMT) School. Students will have the opportunity to earn an AMT certification through the Big Sandy Community and Technical College and the Big Sandy Airport where they will get hands-on experience on airplanes in local hangars. 

“Regional airport directors report that aviation mechanics in our region are currently overbooked and are turning away airplane maintenance work, forcing them to send those work opportunities outside of our region. This new school will allow us to keep that work here in the mountains, creating good paying jobs that soar up to $60,000 annually,” said Congressman Rogers. 

To learn more about the Big Sandy Airport, visit BigSandyRegional.com.

To learn more about the AMT School, visit EKU.edu/FlyKy.