FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program
🏛 Airport Improvement Program Discretionary Grants
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 8, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for airports and airport sponsors seeking funding to improve or modernize air traffic control infrastructure. Eligible applicants include public agencies, private entities, state agencies, Indian Tribes, and Pueblos that own a public-use airport on the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and are approved in the FAA's Contract Tower Program or Cost Share Program.
Funded projects must involve airport-owned air traffic control towers. Activities include sustaining, constructing, repairing, improving, modernizing, replacing, or relocating non-approach control towers. The program also supports acquiring and installing air traffic control communications equipment, or constructing FAA-certified remote towers.
This is a competitive federal grant program with national geographic scope. Applicants must be normally eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) competitive grants under 49 U.S.C. § 47115.
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Program description
The Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the opportunity to apply for up to $100 million in FY 2027 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds for the FCT competitive grant program, made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), Pub. L. 117-58. The purpose of the FCT competitive grant program is to make annual grants available to eligible airports for airport-owned airport traffic control tower (ATCT) projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation’s airports. The FAA will consider ATCT projects that sustain, construct, repair, improve, rehabilitate, modernize, replace, or relocate non-approach control towers; or acquire and install air traffic control, communications, and related equipment to be used in those towers; or construct a remote tower certified by the FAA including acquisition and installation of air traffic control, communications, or related equipment.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative describing tower improvements or equipment needs
- Budget and budget narrative
- Proof of airport's NPIAS designation and Contract Tower Program approval
- Engineering or technical assessments for control tower projects
- Documentation of airport sponsor authority and financial capacity
Program contact
- 👤 Jeffrey Brown Management and Program Analyst
- 📞 2022677203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 20.117 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$289,346,338
-
$80,478,000
-
$69,960,204
-
$69,620,908
-
$62,397,375
-
$60,552,030
-
$50,000,000
-
$47,891,414
-
$44,558,745
-
$43,039,486
Top States by Funding
- CA 7 awards $386.5M
- FL 12 awards $188.0M
- TX 8 awards $186.5M
- CO 4 awards $169.1M
- GA 5 awards $112.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 20.117). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $3,400,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Airports and airport sponsors approved in FAA's Contract Tower Program or Cost Share Program. Eligible applicants include public agencies, private entities, state agencies, Indian Tribes, and Pueblos owning NPIAS airports.
What types of projects are funded?
Projects involving airport-owned air traffic control towers. Eligible activities include construction, repair, modernization, replacement, and relocation of non-approach control towers, plus equipment acquisition and remote tower installation.
What is the funding range?
Individual awards typically range from $25,000 to $55,000,000, with up to $100 million available in the program for FY 2027.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is October 19, 2026. Check the FAA's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for exact submission instructions and any rolling deadlines.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant program. However, applicants should verify current requirements in the official NOFO.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Check the AIP Handbook Table 2-1 to confirm your airport's eligibility status under AIP competitive grants before investing time in the application.
- Clearly document your airport's Contract Tower Program or Cost Share Program approval status. This is a mandatory eligibility requirement.
- Focus your proposal on how the project addresses aging infrastructure and improves air traffic control operations at your airport.
- Include detailed project descriptions covering scope, timeline, and benefits. FAA prioritizes infrastructure modernization that enhances safety and capacity.
- Gather all required technical documentation early, including site plans, engineering assessments, and equipment specifications for control tower projects.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack clear documentation of Contract Tower Program approval status or fail to establish NPIAS airport eligibility. Proposals underestimate project scope and timeline or lack detailed engineering justification for control tower improvements. Insufficient detail on how projects address aging infrastructure or benefit air traffic control operations.
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