Santa Teresa airport awarded $240,000 in federal funds for upgrades

The Doña Ana County International Jetport will receive two FAA grants to fund infrastructure upgrades and apron reconstruction.

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The Doña Ana County International Jetport in Santa Teresa will receive a combined $240,000 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez announced Thursday.

The funding is part of more than $745,000 awarded to four rural airports in southern New Mexico through the Federal Aviation Administration. The money is intended to support safety improvements, extend the lifespan of existing infrastructure and strengthen local economies.

The Santa Teresa jetport — a growing aviation hub just west of El Paso — will receive two separate grants. A $250,000 award will go toward general airport infrastructure upgrades. An additional $90,000 will fund the design phase of a reconstruction project for 600 square yards of pavement on the west apron, which federal officials say has reached the end of its useful life.

“Our rural airports are essential hubs for transportation, commerce and emergency response,” Vasquez said in a statement. “I’m proud to support these critical federal investments that will modernize infrastructure, create jobs and keep our communities connected.”

The Santa Teresa jetport is considered a key piece of the region’s economic development strategy, especially as nearby industrial zones continue to expand.

Other FAA grant recipients include the Grant County Airport in Silver City ($105,000) and the Grants-Milan Municipal Airport ($300,000). The awards fund improvements ranging from parking lot rehabilitation to taxiway resealing.

Vasquez also recently introduced the bipartisan Expanding Regional Airports Act, which aims to boost funding for small and mid-sized airports across the country. The proposal would support upgrades to runways, hangars, security systems and passenger facilities.

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