The City of Yorkton received $12,000 in the most recent release of dollars, said City Manager Lonnie Kaal, who added the City also received $50,379 in the first intake of 2021, for a total of $62,379.
The funds are for runway improvements which included crack sealing, cables for lights, beacon light and radio frequency signs, she added.
In a release it was detailed the government committed to a record $1.5 million to community airport improvements this year including $650,000 in stimulus funding. To date, more than $1.26 million has already been distributed to 19 different communities this year. This additional approved funding will allow five more projects to move forward in 2021-22.
"CAP is a municipal program that provides funding for the rehabilitation, construction, and capital improvements of airport infrastructure for community owned airports in Saskatchewan," Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said in the release. "These airports play an important role to ensure safety by supporting vital services like air ambulance, law enforcement and firefighting." Other community airports receiving funding were:
- Estevan: Changing runway light regulators and repair field circuits, valued at $44,621;
- La Ronge: Install cameras, replace groundside and airside doors, valued at $62,500;
- Lampman: Add turn pads at both ends of the runway, valued at $35,850;
- Maple Creek: New beacon, valued at $3,575; and
The program provides grants to municipal governments to improve community airports. The program helps offset costs associated with rehabilitation and upgrades to the network of community airports.
Projects are approved based on criteria focused on improving safety, extending life cycle of the asset, airport utilization, economic benefits associated with the project, and partnership opportunities.
Since 2007-08, the ministry has invested over $10.5 million including this year's funding and a total of 42 different communities and RMs have benefited from the CAP program.
Applications will be open for CAP grants available in 2022-23 starting in late January.
