Story updated Oct. 29

Grays Harbor County airports will receive more than $80,000 in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan COVID relief package, Sen. Patty Murray announced Tuesday.

Part of about $3 million in funding is slated for the county’s two airports — $59,000 for Bowerman Airport in Hoquiam and $22,000 for the Ocean Shores Municipal Airport.

The awards are distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration as part of $8 billion in total grants that Murray helped secure in the American Rescue Plan to keep U.S. airport workers employed and help U.S. airports recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As airports of all sizes in our state continue working to recover from the devastating effects of this past year’s public health crisis, it is critical they get the help they need to safely keep workers on payroll, passengers on planes, and goods moving through the skies,” said Murray.

“I’m glad to see these airports receive this crucial funding I fought to include in the American Rescue Plan so they can continue to play a strong role in supporting our regional economies.”

Bowerman Airport, with its 5,000-foot-long, 150-foot-wide single runway, is the only jet-capable runway on the state’s coast. Owned by the Port of Grays Harbor, the airport had $2 million in upgrades in 2019, including new drainage, repairs to the grade between the runway and taxiway, 90% funded by the FAA.

Planned improvements include resurfacing the runway and taxiway, and installing additional catch basins around the field’s 26 airport hangars.

Ocean Shores Municipal Airport is city-owned and has a 3,100-foot-long, 55-foot-wide asphalt runway. It is located at 498 Duck Lake Drive NE, opposite North Shore Park.