Resolution to apply for Airport Tower Construction Funds through the 2026 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act FAA Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program.

Adoption of the attached resolution.

As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) program provides funds to modernize airport traffic control towers. These funds will allow airports to sustain, construct, repair, improve, rehabilitate, modernize, replace, or relocate non-approach control towers; acquire and install air traffic control, communications, and related equipment to be used in those towers, and construct a remote tower certified by the FAA.

Mankato Regional Airport is one of 17 sponsor-owned towers conditionally approved for the FAA Contract Tower program and one of 179 airports eligible for the competitive program. Also included is Anoka County-Blaine and St. Cloud Regional.
  
In the past, when the Notice of Funding Opportunity was announced, it remained open for 30 days. Given the Council schedule over the next few months, advance permission to apply to the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity is requested.

The Federal share for FCT improvements is 100%. This includes grants using unobligated Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) funds for FCT projects. 
The latest projection for construction of the Mankato Contract Tower is $25,302,000.
 

ATCT Construction	$18,089,000
Design Contingency	$2,713,000
Equipment	$1,500,000
Professional Services	$3,000,000