Albert Lea city staff will find out this week whether the economic stimulus funds they applied for through the Federal Aviation Administration have been approved.

If obtained, the money would be used for the runway project at the Albert Lea Airport.

City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the city already has $2.1 million of federal funds for the project and has applied for $5.15 million more through economic stimulus funds.

The total project cost is estimated between $6 and $9 million, depending on whether the runway is constructed with bituminous overlay or concrete. Jahnke said the project will be bid both ways.

If the stimulus funds are approved, $4.2 million would go toward relocating the runway, and $950,000 would go toward a two-inch bituminous overlay on the cross runway and area around it, he said.

“This would complete the entire new runway,” Jahnke said.

“We’d be able to get the runway done in a two-year period, versus a three- or four-year period. It would be wonderful.”

The airport project has been in the works for several years, he said. The city originally started talking about it in the 1970s, but in 2000 and 2001, there was a renewed goal of getting the runway rebuilt by 2005. That goal is now closer than ever.

At the beginning of February, the Albert Lea City Council approved the task orders for the different parts of the project, contingent on receiving the stimulus funds.

Ninety-five percent of the cost will come from federal funds and 5 percent will come from local funds.

Housing

First District Congressman Tim Walz’s office indicates the 2009 Recovery Act Capitol Fund Formula Program will grant $304,578 to the Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

The New Richland HRA is getting $42,603.