Committee accepts FAA grant for Dunkirk Airport gate design; airport manager outlines upgrades and air-service efforts

The Chautauqua County Public Facilities Committee on July 14 voted to accept federal funds to pay for the design of three upgraded security gates at the Dunkirk Airport and heard an operational update from airport manager John McNamara about projects and outreach at both the Dunkirk and Jamestown airports.

The committee approved a resolution to accept federal funding covering most of the $50,005.38 contract for design work, with a local share McNamara said amounted to $12.64. “It’s 3 gates upgraded at Dunkirk Airport. And as you can see, total total project for the design is $50,005.38 with the local share of $12.64,” McNamara said during the meeting. Committee members signaled unanimous support before carrying the resolution.

Why it matters: the design contract moves the county past an initial bidding problem on a larger design-and-build procurement. McNamara told the committee that earlier bids for combined design-and-construction came in higher than expected and the county is instead proceeding with a design-only contract to rebid construction later. The committee’s acceptance unlocks federal funding now for the design phase and preserves the county’s eligibility for a larger share of federal support in the FY2025–FY2026 funding cycle.

Key facts and discussion - Funding and share: McNamara said the current federal/state/local split for this project is…