Congressman Tim Walz announced Monday more than $1.5 million in grant money for regional airports. The Mankato Regional Airport will receive $1 million and the Albert Lea Municipal Airport will receive $550,000. The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will be used to rehabilitate the airports’ runways.

“These projects will put people to work in Mankato and Albert Lea,” Walz said. “Regional airports in southern Minnesota are a vital economic development tool and these projects will expand jobs and future economic opportunity.

This funding will be used to rehabilitate the runway in Mankato. In Albert Lea, the funding will rehabilitate the crosswind runway, increasing safety and allowing for the utilization of the airport in all wind conditions.”