Genesee County, Michigan – A nearly $4 million federal grant is giving Bishop International Airport something every growing airport needs: more room to move.
The money will not arrive as a flashy new terminal or a visible passenger amenity. Instead, it will go into the airfield itself, where a new taxilane and service road are expected to improve safety, reduce congestion and open space for future aviation development.
Officials announced Wednesday in Flint that the Bishop International Airport Authority has received a Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Infrastructure Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The award totals nearly $4 million and will finance the final stage of a major airfield improvement project that has been years in the making.
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The investment comes as Bishop International Airport continues to strengthen its place as one of Genesee County’s key transportation and economic development assets. Airport leaders and local officials say the project is about more than pavement. It is also intended to create better access, support new private investment and prepare the airport for long term growth.
The largest piece of the work will be construction of a new taxilane measuring 1,200 feet. It will connect the airfield to an area planned for nonexclusive hangar development, giving aircraft improved access to future facilities.
That connection could create new opportunities for aviation related businesses and other development at the airport. By making the hangar area easier to reach, Bishop can better position the site for investment while expanding the infrastructure available to aircraft operators.
The project also includes a paved service road measuring 6,000 feet. The route will provide designated airport personnel and authorized vehicles with another way to reach operational areas without relying on more congested parts of the airfield.
That change is expected to improve daily efficiency while helping separate service traffic from aircraft movement. In an airport environment, where timing, access and safety are closely linked, an alternate route can make routine operations smoother and reduce pressure on existing pathways.
The construction will also bring airport infrastructure into conformity with current Federal Aviation Administration standards. Officials described the work as the final construction phase of a multiyear planning effort, making the grant a major step toward completing improvements developed over several years.
Genesee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dale K. Weighill spoke during the announcement and emphasized Bishop International Airport’s importance to Genesee County and the wider region. He also thanked Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet for advocating for the community and supporting the effort to secure federal funding.
Weighill was joined by McDonald Rivet, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Bishop International Airport CEO Nino Sapone and members of the Bishop International Airport Authority Board.
Their presence reflected the broad role the airport plays across the region. Bishop serves residents and visitors, but it also functions as a gateway for commerce, business activity and regional connections. Improvements that strengthen airport operations can therefore have effects well beyond the runway.
The latest grant addresses immediate operational needs while preparing for what may come next. The taxilane creates access to land that can support future hangar development. The service road gives airport crews a more efficient route through operational areas. Together, the projects improve the airfield while creating space for further expansion.
With the final phase now backed by federal funding, Bishop International Airport is positioned to complete a long planned infrastructure upgrade and continue competing for aviation activity and investment. For Flint and Genesee County, the work represents a practical investment beneath the surface, one designed to keep aircraft, airport staff and future development moving in the same direction.