The U.S. Department of Transportation announced last week that 3,400 airports in the national airport system will receive funds from the economic recovery package for projects that help address airport safety and security, improve infrastrucutre and runway safety, and help to decrease environmental impact. 

Of the $1.1 billion in recovery funds received by the FAA, Virginia will receive $5 million for two projects:

• Franklin Municipal-John Beverly Rose in Franklin will receive $2.56 million for runway rehabilitation. 
• The state government will receive $2.44 million to acquire a mobile aircraft rescue and firefighting training facility.  

Priority was given to projects that will be completed in the next two years.  

The Tidewater News reports that the Franklin Airport was built in the early 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps built it as a project during the Great Depression:

The 5,000-foot runway is used for various business flights, including passengers bound for International Paper Co. And the Navy uses the airport for helicopter practice landings and take-offs.

Click here to learn more about the FAA's "Grants-in-Aid for Airports" projects.