Chinook airport grant is up in the air

Federal officials last week announced a $625,136 grant for major runway improvements at the Edgar Obie Airport at Chinook, but Blaine County officials aren’t celebrating yet.

William Solem, secretary of the Blaine County Airport Commission, said there is no certainty the commission can raise the 10 percent match that is required for the grant.

“We're trying to come up with the money,” he said.

The commission oversees airports in Turner. Hogeland and Harlem, as well as Chinook.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., announced the grant Wednesday morning.

Solem said the announcement was “premature,” though he hopes things will work out.

“We’re not sure that we can afford it,” he said, adding, “I’m not happy that the politicians wanted their names on this,” he said.

The project will fund the reconstruction of 10,706 square yards of the existing apron pavement that has reached the end of its useful life, Zinke said in a press release.

“Montana’s small airports are literally a lifeline to many Montanans living in rural areas,” Zinke said.

The Chinook grant is the largest of three that were awarded to small airports in Montana.

Airports in Plains and Roundup received smaller grants.