Juneau's tower grant comes with a catch: it drains the airport's savings

The FAA has awarded Juneau International Airport a $963,000 grant to repair its air traffic control tower — the roof, hatch, and access ladder, all original to the tower's 1987 construction. The full project runs just over $1 million, and the airport must cover about $50,700 of it.

The airport's capital reserve held just under $110,000 in early July, so the payment would take nearly half the fund in one draw. The airport had considered adding close to $800,000 to the reserve this year but set the contribution at zero after feedback from Alaska Airlines, its main carrier.

The airport board was scheduled to vote on the match July 9. Staff extended the FAA's application deadline to late October but must have the project ready to bid by mid-September to keep the grant. Construction is set to begin in spring 2027.