TEXARKANA - The Texarkana airport is expected to receive about $1 million in stimulus funds from President Joe Biden's relief bill.
"We are expected to receive about $1 million to use for operating costs and maintenance budget," said Airport Director Paul Mehrlich.
The relief bill is providing about $9 billion in all to airports across the nation along with $14 billion for airlines.
A good portion of the money that the Texarkana airport receives will be used for protecting employee payroll, Mehrlich said.
"In the event of something happening, our employees will be safe," he said.
The Texarkana airport received similar amounts in the last two rounds of stimulus payments, Mehrlich said. The funds will also be used to restore a management position that the airport has not had in several years.
"We hope to hire an airport operations manager. That is a position that we have not had in about three years."
The second portion of federal funding will include $642,000. It will be given to the airport to help cover the construction costs of the new terminal.
Mehrlich said these funds are usually 90% from the federal government but will be 100% this year.
A groundbreaking for the terminal will be Saturday, June 12.