Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Aeronautics and Aviation

Airport Capital Grant

We are accepting applications for the SFY 2025 Airport Capital Grant program. We fund capital improvement projects that benefit the public at publicly funded airports.

Eligibility

The funding is provided through the State Airports Fund and is used annually to fund eligible projects at the 133 publicly funded airports in the state of Minnesota. Eligible projects include planning, land acquisition, paving of runways/aprons/taxilanes, lighting, obstruction removal, fencing, noise mitigation and other needs.

Not eligible

AWOS and ILS projects are not being accepted under this grant program. They are funded with different a funding program.

Application timeline

  • March 1, 2024: Application portal opens
  • May 1, 2024: Applications due
  • June 30, 2024: Awards announced

Application process

An application is required for each project that is listed on your airport’s capital improvement program (CIP) for State Fiscal Year 2025. Funding participation will be according to the State Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Rates Letter. Incomplete applications will not be scored.

Gather items for your application

  • Project cost estimates
  • Additional supporting documentation
  • Verification of Minnesota State Aviation System Plan objectives

Submit your application

After you apply

  • We'll evaluate all applications and score them using the State Funding Prioritization Model (PDF).
  • Our employees in appropriate sections will evaluate lighting, navigational aid and planning projects.
  • The highest scoring projects will be awarded grants until all available funds have been assigned.
  • If your project is selected, you'll receive a grant offer letter.
  • We'll announce awards on June 30, 2024.

Additional information

Last year, we developed a new funding prioritization (scoring) model to be compliant with MnDOT’s Project Selection Policy and the requirements of Minnesota Law. Additionally, the new model was developed to be as objective, transparent, and data driven as possible and better align with the Minnesota State Aviation System Plan (MnSASP) policy framework and direction. The model was implemented last year with the scoring of SFY 2024 capital projects and will be used to score and prioritize SFY 2025 capital projects.