Funding Programs

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) consistently provides funding for capital and planning projects to the public-use aviation facilities in Delaware.

Airports listed in National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) are eligible for federal funding. Three public-use, publicly-owned facilities in Delaware apply for and receive federal funding through various federal funding programs – most notably, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Those facilities include:

• Wilmington Airport
• Delaware Airpark
• Delaware Coastal Airport

DelDOT allocates an annual matching fund to these facilities for capital and planning projects, which amounts to 5% of the total project cost. To learn more about FAA AIP grants, please click here.

Airports that are not listed in the NPIAS are not eligible for federal funding. However, all public-use facilities (includig those which are privately-owned) are eligible to receive state funding for capital projects. Those non-NPIAS, public-use facilities include:

• Chandelle Airport
• Chorman Airport
• Jenkins Airport
• Laurel Airport
• Smyrna Airport
• Summit Airport

Funding is made available to these facilities via a grant application and subsequent priority rating process. Grant applications for projects submitted by the airport owner/manager are weighted based on several factors, focused primarily on economic viability and infrastructure preservation. Safety and subsequent conformity to FAA standards is also a significant factor. All grant applications submitted in a given fiscal year will be rated according to the various factors.

For non-revenue producing infrastructure projects, the airport owner/manager is responsible for 10% of the total project cost, with state funding supporting the remaining 90% of the total project cost. For revenue producing infrastructure projects, the airport owner/manager is responsible for 50% of the total project cost, which recognizes the anticipated future return on that investment.

To initiate a grant application, airport owners/managers should gather all required information:

• Project description and justification
• Required environmental studies or documents
• Survey and plan of proposed site
• A minimum of two independent bids on the proposed project
• Any other relevant documents

For revenue-producing projects, a business plan with financial projections for that project must also be included.

Grant applications can be found here: Grant Application and Process

All applications should be submitted to the DelDOT Office of Aeronautics via email: DelDOT_Aeronautics@delaware.gov. Applications can also be sent via mail to the following address:

DelDOT Planning
Office of Aeronautics
PO Box 778
Dover, DE 19903

For questions or additional assistance, please contact DelDOT’s Office of Aeronautics via email or phone (302-760-2214).