WASHINGTON — Two local airports will get upgrade help thanks to the federal government.

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-Pendleton, announced the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $76,762 to the Wellsville Airport to reconstruct a 15,000-square-foot hangar; and $33,250 to the Olean Airport to reconstruct two gates at the facility.

“Investing in our local airports is essential to strengthening our regional infrastructure and economy,” Langworthy stated, adding the FAA grants “will help Wellsville and Olean airports make needed upgrades that improve safety, access and future growth opportunities for our communities.”

The Wellsville airport, also known as Tarantine Field, was built by the town of Wellsville government in the 1970s and has a 5,302-foot runway. The Cattaraugus County-Olean Airport, operated by the city in the town of Ischua, opened in 1959. The airport  has a 4,800-foot asphalt runway and a 2,100-foot turf runway. In the early years of the facility the airport was home to commercial flights, but those operations ceased in the 1970s.

The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program has provided millions of dollars in recent years to upgrade the two facilities. In 2024, the city received $255,000 for work to replace the rotating beacon at the airport and for runway and taxiway lighting and signs. Another $137,000 was announced in 2023 for apron repaving, and $955,000 was announced in 2022 for repaving the taxiway.

In Wellsville, the airport received $1.02 million in 2022 for land acquisition and apron reconstruction; and another $130,000 was announced in 2023 for taxiway reconstruction.

The grants typically require a 10% state and local share, while the federal government covers 90% of the associated costs.