RALEIGH – The N.C. Board of Transportation has approved state and federal funds for improvements to 27 North Carolina airports.

The $24.7 million in funding, approved by the board during its July meeting, will be used to provide improvements such as better runway lighting, new fuel tanks and safer taxiways.

For example, some of the funding is going to Anson County Airport- Jeff Cloud Field to help build a fence that will eventually enclose the entire airfield. Located just miles from Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, the airport is always at risk from runway incursions by animals.

“Just like when you’re driving on the highway, deer and other wildlife present a danger to aircraft that are landing or taking off,” said Chris Joffsen, who helps manage the airport for Anson County. “Once complete, operations here will become much safer and pilots won’t have to worry as much about encountering something on the runway.”

North Carolina airports serve as a vital economic engine connecting people and business enterprises with the world. They are among the primary economic drivers in their local communities.

The projects the N.C. Board of Transportation approved include:

$903,240 to install phase II of perimeter fencing at Anson County Airport – Jeff Cloud Field.

$390,600 to update the airport layout plan at Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport.

$526,000 to rehabilitate pavement at the aircraft apron in the Fixed Base Operation area at Clinton-Sampson County Airport.

$426,600 to rehabilitate pavement on the north apron and $323,100 to update the airport layout plan at Currituck County Regional Airport.

$155,000 to acquire land to clear obstructions from the runway approach, $306,000 to install security fencing around the terminal area and $321,300 to update the airport layout plan at Columbus County Municipal Airport.

$585,000 to rehabilitate apron pavement to match the current strength of the runway and taxiways and $361,800 to update the airport layout plan at Dare County Regional Airport.

$180,000 to update the airport layout plan at Duplin County Airport.

$513,333 to construct a new hangar access road and $438,435 to reconstruct hangar taxilane pavement at Foothills Regional Airport (Morganton).

$225,000 to update the airport layout plan at Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport.

$2,484,000 for rehabilitation of the runway pavement at Henderson-Oxford Airport.

$1,269,176 to prepare the site for a future Fixed based Operation and maintenance facility, and

$325,800 to update the airport layout plan at Johnston County Airport

$315,000 to obstructions to the Runway 23 approach and $531,236 to rehabilitate the general aviation apron pavement at Kinston Regional Jetport-Stallings Field.

$610,000 to include Taxiway G in an active rehabilitation of Taxiway F at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport.

$486,000 to replace outdate glideslope instruments at Mid-Carolina Regional Airport (Salisbury).

$1,344,600 to rehabilitate taxiway pavement and $672,916 to complete environmental mitigation at Mount Airy Surry County Airport.

$209,000 for design of a full parallel taxiway at Mount Olive Municipal Airport.

$288,000 to update the airport layout plan at Northeastern Regional Airport (Edenton).

$513,000 to remove Runway 6 obstructions at Person County Airport.

$296,100 to complete purchasing of land within the Runway Protection Zones at Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport.

$1,440,000 to rehabilitate the runway and taxiway lighting at Stanly County Airport.

$675,000 to replace the existing runway electronic approach localizer and glideslope guidance system at Statesville Regional Airport.

$1,521,000 to rehabilitate airfield lighting at Triangle North Executive Airport (Louisburg).

$2,828,700 to rehabilitate the taxiway and runway, and design and rehabilitate the aircraft apron pavement at Warren field (Washington).

$326,785 to reimburse for land purchased and $2,922,750 for future construction of four new hangars and construction of a new apron and taxiway at Wayne Executive Jetport.

Airports and aviation-related industries contribute more than $31 billion to North Carolina’s economy each year, according to a 2016 report. There are 123,400 airport-related jobs in the state.

The NCDOT Division of Aviation is responsible for airport and aviation system planning and development, and provides funding to local communities for constructing and improving airports throughout the state.

The funds awarded do not in all cases represent the total cost of the project.