BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The town of Massena will see a major equipment upgrade at the Massena International Airport after federal officials awarded the town a major grant for a new snowblower. 

The equipment will come at a total cost of $984,500 but the town will only be responsible for $24,612 thanks in part to a $935,275 federal grant through the FAA. 

New York State will match Massena's contribution with another $24,613. 

The award comes from a $33.7 million federal funding package that was recently announced by Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. 

Massena was the only North Country municipality to receive a share of the funds. 

As part of the FAA's Airport Improvement Program, the town will be able to replace a 23-year-old unit that has been in need of repair or replacement after its four-wheel steering failed. 

Town officials said that limitation has meant tight turns necessary to rapidly clear runways of snow has been difficult, forcing operators to back up and move forward multiple times to clear snow. 

Under federal regulations, airports are not allowed to have snow banks as a safety precaution, meaning the snow blowing units must throw the snow hundreds of feet clear. 

But with steering limitations, that process was slowed in recent efforts. 

With the funding secured, Massena will now be able to more effectively keep runways clear. 

“Keeping our airports in top-notch shape is crucial to attracting business and tourism to Upstate New York. With winter approaching, it is more important than ever to ensure our airports are prepared for whatever winter storms come our way. I’m proud to deliver more than $33 million in federal funding to help our airports, from Elmira to Syracuse, invest in key safety upgrades and modernization efforts,” Schumer said in a statement.

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