Three airports in the Denver metro area are set to receive $20 million in federal grant money.

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, announced the funding in a statement. 

"I am excited to announce this important grant funding for several of our airports across Colorado,” Sen. Gardner said. “Modernizing our infrastructure and transportation systems is important for our quality of life and our economy."

The Centennial Airport will receive $4 million of the total $20,185,075 awarded to rehabilitate and repair the facility's runway lighting and main taxiway. Another amount of over $4 million will be given to the Boulder Municipal Airport to fix its runway lighting. And $12 million is to go to the Denver International Airport to also rehabilitate its taxiway and repair the taxiway lighting. 

"This funding will go toward critical infrastructure projects that will enable the airports to undertake improvements and ultimately lead to better service for Coloradans," Gardner said. "I will always fight for Colorado’s transportation priorities at the federal level.” 

The federal Department of Transportation awards the funding through an infrastructure program known as the Airport Improvement Program grants to rehabilitate runways, taxiways and other facilities across the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration also manages the program with the intention of keeping up with new technology and construction techniques that are needed to keep airports working.   

"The FAA's regular Airport Improvement Program (AIP) provides more than $3.18 billion annually in entitlement and discretionary grant funds for a network of more than 3,300 eligible airports," an FAA press release from November 2019 says.