Anniston, AL – Alabama Daily News published the following story detailing a grant that has been awarded to the Anniston Regional Airport from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation at the Department of War.

Read the full story in Alabama Daily News here and below.

$18M Pentagon grant awarded to Anniston airport, Rogers announces

Alex Angle

September 23, 2026

The Pentagon awarded an $18.5 million federal grant on Wednesday to improve Anniston Regional Airport’s primary runway.

The funding is part of the Department of Defense’s Defense Community Infrastructure Program grants through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, which aims to support local infrastructure projects near military installations such as Anniston Army Depot.

“These funds will greatly improve the Anniston Airport’s ability to serve the Anniston Army Depot and the community at large,” U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, said in an exclusive statement to Alabama Daily News.

“This is a huge investment for the defense industrial base in East Alabama, and I am excited to see these improvements take hold.”

The nearly $18.5 million grant for the City of Anniston will cover a majority of the total cost of the runway improvements, which is expected to be about $19 million.

A groundbreaking can occur once all environmental requirements are met, according to a letter from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, obtained by Alabama Daily News.

Anniston’s grant is one of 26 awards given to communities from the Pentagon totaling $230 million.

“The Fiscal Year 2026 awards deliver historic funding to the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, driving critical infrastructure upgrades that directly strengthen military installations nationwide,” Dale Marks, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment, said.

Huntsville also received a $10.8 million federal grant from the same program to fund the first phase of Resolute Way, a new road to help improve traffic flow around Redstone Arsenal.

“This $10.8 million federal grant for the Resolute Way Interchange project will improve access to Redstone Arsenal and ease congestion, ensuring north Alabama is prepared to support that growth,” U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, said.

The Anniston grant is one of the largest awards, with just three of the 26 projects receiving more money than the Alabama airport.

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