Garfield County commissioners on Sept. 8 unanimously voted to enter into a grant agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for funding for infrastructure improvements at the Rifle Garfield County Airport. 

Each year, airports are entitled to funding based on passenger volume from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for airport infrastructure projects. In fiscal year 2025, the FAA awarded over $2 billion in grants to fund improvements to airport facilities, airfields and runways at airports across the country. 

Garfield County was offered a maximum grant of $150,000 to cover 95% of the cost for a rehabilitated apron design for the Rifle Garfield County Airport. County commissioners approved the grant agreement and agreed to cover remaining projects costs — 5%, or $7,895, and any costs ineligible for FAA coverage. 

“The design work funded by this grant is a necessary first phase to prepare for future construction to rehabilitate the apron and ensure safe, efficient aircraft operations,” a report from Garfield County staff states. 

The apron project will be completed in four phases of construction. State and federal funding will be used to design all four phases now although construction will take the next several years to complete, according to Rifle Garfield County Airport Director Sam Carver. The airport already accepted $500,000 from the state of Colorado to fund the design, Carver told commissioners during the meeting. 

The county has four years to complete the apron rehabilitation project, according to FAA grant rules.