Reno-Tahoe airport to get $2.2 million of stimulus

— -- The federal government is giving the Reno/Tahoe International Airport $2.2 million in stimulus money so the airport can improve the surface near the terminals where jets and equipment move.

The White House announced the $2.2 million in stimulus money on Friday along with $1.3 million for the Boulder City Airport.

The Reno money will be used for Phase 12 of an ongoing airport apron reconstruction project, airport spokeswoman Heidi Berthold said.

The apron is the ramp area for the 23 gates where aircraft pull up to the terminals and passengers enter and exit the aircraft, Berthold said.

"Some of the pavement in the area we're talking about is as much as 20 years old," Berthold said.

The apron work is part of the normal wear-and-tear maintenance that takes place at the airport, she said.

The federal money being used to pay for the work largely comes from taxes on airline tickets.

The difference between the stimulus money and normal ticket tax reimbursement is that this time the airport does not have to come up with

6.52% matching funds to get this money. That's about $146,000 that the airport does not have to fund, Berthold said.

Work should begin this summer and the airport was given a priority because it said the work could be finished within two years, Berthold said.

As far as stimulating the economy, Berthold said about 80 to 100 people working for contractors, vendors and suppliers will get employment because of the contract.

The Reno and Boulder City airports are two of the nation's 3,400 airports eligible to receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, the White House said in a statement.

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