07.12.16

Hoeven, Congressional Delegation Meet with Williston Officials to Help Secure Funding for New Airport

Senator Will Work to Secure Additional Funding for Relocation and Expansion Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, today met with Williston leaders to help advance federal support for the city’s new airport expansion and relocation project, Sloulin Field International Airport. Hoeven said he will continue to work to secure additional funding for the city’s airport expansion and relocation project. Last year, the senator worked to secure $27 million for the project.

“Williston continues to be an important hub for the energy industry in western North Dakota, and the airport relocation and expansion project is a vital piece of infrastructure that will enable the entire region to grow and thrive,” Hoeven said. “Due to their essential economic impact on their surrounding communities, I worked to help ensure in legislation that funding would be available so that projects like the Williston’s that are constrained in their current location could be moved to a more suitable site.”

In May, Hoeven was able to introduce language into the Senate’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill to ensure that sufficient funding is available for projects like Williston’s Sloulin Field. Some airports, like Sloulin Field, are unable to grow their current facilities because of various physical constraints. The Hoeven provision, however, directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure sufficient funding is available to relocate these airports in a timely manner.
In addition to Hoeven’s airport relocation provision, the new THUD legislation includes the following provisions important to Williston and other North Dakota communities. These include:

• Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Funding is critical for capital improvement programs at airports ongoing in North Dakota, including Williston, Dickinon, Devils Lake and Valley City airports.
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): Provides states and communities with funding that can be used for a wide range of community development programs. Funding has been critical for flood recovery efforts in Minot and Fargo.

In addition to Hoeven, also in attendance were Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer, State Senator and Finance Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl; Airport Manager Steven Kjergaard; North Dakota Aeronautics Commissioner Kyle Wanner.

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