REGIONAL— Several local airports around the North Country will be benefitting from the bipartisan infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden.
Airports in Tower, Orr, and Cook, will each receive $110,000 in funding for improvement projects, while the Ely airport is slated to receive $159,000.
The money can be invested in a variety of projects, including runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. 
The Federal Aviation Authority, or FAA, is encouraging airports to prioritize projects that increase airport safety, equity, and sustainability.
The infrastructure bill approved a total of $15 billion for airport-related projects. A total of $2.89 billion of those funds are being allocated in fiscal year 2022, which runs through Sept. 30, 2022. Statewide, Minnesota is slated to receive $59.322 million from the program in the coming year.
Other northeastern Minnesota airports slated for funding include:
• Falls International-Einarson Field- $1.01 million.
• Eveleth-Virginia Municipal- $159,000.
• Silver Bay- $110,000.
• Range Regional, Hibbing- $1.01 million.