Minnesota Airport Capital Grant
Applications now open for State Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Capital Grant
Applications are now open for Minnesota’s SFY 2026 Airport Capital Grant program. An application is required for each project that is listed on the airport’s Capital Improvement Program for SFY 2026. The funding is provided through the State Airports Fund and is used annually to fund eligible projects at the 132 publicly funded airports in the state of Minnesota.
Purpose
The Airport Capital Grant Program funds capital improvement projects at publicly funded airports in Minnesota. Projects must benefit the air-traveling public. Eligible projects include planning, land acquisition, paving and other improvements to runways/aprons/taxilanes, lighting, obstruction removal, fencing, noise mitigation, and other needs.
Applications and eligibility
Applications must provide all required information including justification, accurate project cost estimates and any additional supporting documentation, to be considered for funding. Incomplete applications will not be scored. Funding participation will be according to the SFY 2026 Funding Rates Letter.
Timeline
- May 2, 2025 – Applications open for SFY 26 airport grants
- May 30, 2025 – Applications due to MnDOT Aeronautics.
- June 30, 2025 – Selected projects announced.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, the airport must meet four criteria set forth in Minnesota Statute, Chapter 360.
- The airport must be owned by a municipality. Municipalities include cities, counties, townships and airport authorities in Minnesota, acting individually or jointly.
- The airport must be licensed for public use.
- The airport must be in the State Airport System.
- The airport must be zoned or in the process of zoning. Municipalities are given the power to create, adopt, and enforce airport zoning.
Complete the web-based application.
- SFY 26 Aeronautics Grant Application
- Once you submit the application, you will receive a PDF form with your responses.
After you apply
- All eligible airport capital project applications are evaluated on application responses and scored using the State Funding Prioritization Model. Lighting, Navigational Aid and planning projects are also reviewed by their respective sections.
- Eligible capital grants will be awarded to the highest scoring projects until all available funds have been assigned.
- AWOS and ILS projects are not being accepted for the SFY 2026. Contact us for more information on AWOS and ILS.