Congressman Bennie Thompson Announces Over $767,000 in Federal Aviation Administration Grants for Mississippi Airports

BOLTON, MS — Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) today announced that three airports in Mississippi’s Second Congressional District will receive a combined total of $767,978 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through the Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Infrastructure Program (AIP).

The grants awarded include:

• Panola County Airport (Batesville, MS) – $450,000
  Awarded to the County of Panola, this funding will support the rehabilitation of 8,000 square yards of existing terminal apron pavement. The project will help maintain structural integrity and reduce foreign object debris, ensuring safer aircraft operations.
• Cleveland Municipal Airport (Cleveland, MS) – $237,500
  Awarded to the City of Cleveland, this grant will fund updates to the airport layout plan, including the development of a master plan narrative to guide future growth and improvements.
• Carthage-Leake County Airport (Carthage, MS) – $80,478
  Awarded jointly to the City of Carthage and Leake County, this funding supports Phase 2 of a project to construct a new 8,950-square-foot sponsor-owned aircraft storage hangar. The project will enhance the airport’s ability to generate revenue and operate sustainably.

The FAA will administer the grants, and projects are expected to move forward in coordination with local stakeholders.