U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards Presents $2.5M to Asheville Airport for Taxiway

A $2.5 million federal appropriation arrived at Asheville Regional Airport when U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards presented a check to airport leadership on Feb. 20 to help build a new taxiway, officials said. Local reporting and economic development partners identified the funds as federally appropriated and the award was routed through DOT/FAA airport grant channels, according to regional notices.

Airport spokesperson Angi Daus told the Hendersonville Times-News that the taxiway will move planes between runways, hangars and other airfield areas and can serve as a runway when AVL’s single runway is closed for maintenance. Daus said the configuration is a safety and efficiency priority for the airfield: “It’s extremely important for the safety and efficiency of the airport that you have a proper configuration and setup of your airfield,” she said in the Feb. 23 interview.

Regional economic development officials tied the taxiway funding to preparations at Ferncliff Park, where 101 acres are being readied for aerospace and advanced manufacturing in a collaboration between the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Henderson County Government and the airport. Gohendersoncountync reported that once work at Ferncliff Park is complete, qualifying aerospace manufacturers will be able to apply for access to the airport taxiway, a development the site called a rare opportunity in North Carolina, which it said hosts more than 650 aerospace companies and suppliers and ranks third nationally for aerospace attractiveness.

The taxiway award arrives amid an active period of airport expansion at AVL. The airport broke ground on the $400 million AVL Forward rebuilding project in August 2023 and the airport opened a new Ticket Lobby on June 11, 2025, followed by the North Concourse and new TSA checkpoint on June 25, 2025. Lew Bleiweis, president and CEO of Asheville Regional Airport, called the concourse opening “a major achievement not just for the Airport, but for the entire region… We are proud to welcome passengers into this beautiful new space,” in airport materials describing the milestone. AVL surpassed two million passengers in both 2023 and 2024 and FlyAVL reports the airport generates $3.9 billion in economic impact and supports 22,745 jobs.

Federal funding context for the $2.5 million includes Congress’ passage of a $1.2 trillion FY2026 appropriations package Feb. 3 and the broader DOT/FAA Grants-in-Aid for Airports program; Rep. Chuck Edwards noted in a Jan. 23 release that the bipartisan funding package delivers funding for infrastructure and workforce development, saying, “This bipartisan funding package ensures we deliver real results for our communities, from safer streets and emergency services to reliable infrastructure and workforce development.” Biden White House archives also record prior DOT/FAA support to AVL, including a $15 million grant for terminal improvements and reference to national Bipartisan Infrastructure Law airport investments.

Airport officials said there is no set construction timeline for the taxiway and that it will “probably be several years” before completion; Daus added she did not expect construction to affect commercial flights. Sources provided no construction start date, contract award, bidder information or total project cost beyond the $2.5 million federal contribution, leaving next steps and match funding arrangements to be determined as the airport moves from appropriation to project planning.