The U.S. Department of Transportation this week notified the South Alabama Regional Airport it will receive $440,345 in funding to improve airport erosion control.

The grant funds the second phase of an erosion control project and includes grading and stabilizing of the soil in the Runway 29 protection program.

“The South Alabama Regional Airport is pleased to receive this grant for FY 2014,” said SARA co-executive director Misty Jones. “It will allow us to begin the second phase of a permanent erosion control project in the runway protection zone off Runway 29.

“We depend each year on our FAA grant program to enable us to do projects such as this,” she said. “Without the support from Rep. Roby, Sen. Shelby, Sen. Sessions, our FAA Airports District Office in Jackson, Miss., the State Aeronautics Bureau and each of our local governmental entities; City of Andalusia, City of Opp and the Covington County Commission, we would not be in a position to perform projects of this magnitude. We greatly appreciate everything they have done through the years that has contributed to the success of the South Alabama Regional Airport.”

The grant funds will be issued over a two-year period, with $290,345 being paid in fiscal year 2014 funding, and the remaining $150,000 subject to appropriations in fiscal year 2015.