Gardner's Airport is Receiving Federal Money for its Runway Project. Here's How Much.

Dec. 23—GARDNER — Gardner Municipal Airport will receive $110,000 in federal grant funding to help cover the costs of a runway resurfacing project.

The amount, which is part of $700,000 allocated to three local airports, marks the first round of disbursements of Airport Infrastructure Grants from the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

"It's great news," said Ken Bonk, chair of the city's Airport Commission, who added that the project would mark the first time the runway would be resurfaced in about 30 years. "We've gotten darn good service out of (the runway) and it's still in pretty good shape, but when it starts to go it'll go."

The runway project is in its research phase, said Bonk, who added that he expects the project to be completed within two years.

Investing in local municipal airports is important because they play an important role in serving the community, Bonk said.

"There's all kinds of aviation (here), including sport aviation and general aviation, which encompasses individuals and businesses flying into the airport," he said. "I did that for a living. I flew for a couple of companies when I was working and I would go all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico into general aviation airports that the airlines didn't serve."

The military often utilizes local municipal airports for training purposes, he said.

"The airport is open to anybody, it's a place that anybody can come to, and it services this area — around Gardner, Templeton, Winchendon and Rutland," Bonk said, adding that local airfields often serve as a hidden benefit in the community. "A lot of people don't even know there's an airport here, but of course, the aviation community knows about it."

Bonk said the airport has been operating smoothly throughout the pandemic, and he praised the assistance of local volunteers who help keep the roads and runways clear in the winter and the grass mowed in the summer.

"Our operating costs are really quite low because we have these volunteers, and we're lucky to have them," he said. "We're pretty frugal over here."

The federal grant money is allocated for investments in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects, according to officials.

"When we passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we did so knowing it would improve the lives of every person across the Commonwealth," said U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, who represents the state's third congressional district. "Of course, that means better roads, safer bridges and cleaner drinking water, but it also means improved travel through Massachusetts airports — large and small. I'm proud to see these substantial investments going to airports in Lawrence, Fitchburg, Gardner and beyond."

Bonk, who began volunteering as a teenager at the airport 60 years ago, is retiring from his position on the Airport Commission, where he has served for nearly three decades. He said he will remain involved while the commission hires a new airport manager.

"A lot of people ask me if I'm going to travel (in my retirement), but I've been doing that all my life," Bonk said. "So, staying here and being involved in stuff around home is nice. But I'll still be involved at the airport."

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