July 2, 2025 3:40 a.m.

Federal lawmakers have announced $300,000 in a federal grant to help with improvements at the Roseburg Regional Airport.

A release from Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Val Hoyle said its part of $9.7 million combined in federal grants for infrastructure improvements to taxiways, fencing, aircraft storage and more at airports throughout Oregon.

City Manager Nikki Messenger said, “We so appreciate our federal delegation and the FAA’s ongoing support of improvements at the Roseburg Regional Airport”.

Information from City of Roseburg staff said the money will be used for a security/fencing project at the Roseburg Regional Airport. The project will go out for bid in late July, so the funding is considered a “placeholder grant”. The funds provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will fund 95 percent of the project.

Messenger said, “The project will improve security at the airport – increasing safety for airport users by helping prevent unlawful incursions into active aviation areas”. Messenger said, “The Roseburg Regional Airport is a critical link in the region’s transportation system for business, commerce, tourism, health and safety, firefighting and many other purposes”.

The city secured a matching grant through the Oregon Department of Aviation which will cover about 90 percent of the necessary match. That means the city will need to fund half a percent of the total cost. That is likely to be around $1,500.

The city will know the total cost after the bids are received, which is scheduled in August. At that time, the grant application will be formalized and then the grant agreement will be finalized. It must be approved by the city council.

Other federal grants are going to airports in Redmond, Creswell, Mulino, Ashland and Condon.