Fresno Airport’s $127M Expansion Gets Boost With New Federal Grants

Rep. Jim Costa announced Thursday that Fresno Yosemite International Airport will receive a $7.1 million federal grant to expand the terminal and $4.4 million to upgrade its primary runway.

“These federal investments will help fund the airport’s expansion, create good-paying jobs, and boost our economic growth, as part of an ongoing effort that I am engaged with the city of Fresno to improve air service for the public.” — Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno 

“Fresno-Yosemite International Airport is one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, with historic passenger growth and air travel demand,” Costa said in a news release. “These federal investments will help fund the airport’s expansion, create good-paying jobs, and boost our economic growth, as part of an ongoing effort that I am engaged with the city of Fresno to improve air service for the public.

“I was proud to support the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It’s through investments like this that we can ensure that all travelers flying to and from the San Joaquin Valley have an easier, safer journey to their destination.”

The city’s director of aviation, Henry Thompson, said that the “significant funding investments move us closer to constructing a modern and expanded terminal facility, which will provide California’s Central Valley travelers with a higher level of service, as well as help to rebuild critical infrastructure on the airport’s airfield.”

The smaller grant will improve the airport’s primary runway, which is used for commercial flights, freight, wildfire suppression, and Homeland Security.

The larger grant will help build a new terminal concourse featuring two international and domestic passenger bridges as part of the city’s FAT Forward plan.

On Nov. 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, which invests $15 billion to help redevelop airports across the country. The following December, Costa and local leaders announced $4.6 million through the IIJA for improvements to the airport’s taxiway, terminal development, and noise prevention.