VIDALIA &045;&045; Money for improvements keeps landing at the Concordia Parish Airport.

The parish’s congressional delegation announced Wednesday that the airport will receive $402,500 in federal grant money, the third grant in three years.

The federal money will be combined with Department of Transportation dollars to provide $425,000 for airport projects.

Airport Authority President Carl Sayers said the money would be used to improve the runway.

&uot;We are glad to see it,&uot; Sayers said. &uot;The airport at Concordia Parish is one of the nicest of its kind in this part of the state.&uot;

Taxi lanes for access to the aircraft hangar area will be built. Sayers said the airport authority hopes to take bids on the project early this summer and have the work completed by October.

The announcement was made by U.S. Sen. David Vitter and U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander.

&uot;I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Transportation made this federal money available to the Concordia Parish Airport,&uot; Vitter said. &uot;This grant will help improve travel into Vidalia and bring potential economic benefits to Concordia Parish.&uot;

In May the airport received a $47,000 federal grant to create a five-year plan and improve facilities.

Sayers said the five-year plan included the taxi access area and runway improvements in addition to building a t-hanger.

The airport currently has 12 aircraft that are based there. The planned t-hanger space will provide room for 20 more planes.