CARRABASSETT VALLEY & RANGELEY –- Good news has come to the towns of Rangeley and Carrabassett Valley with federal and state money on the way for airport enhancements. The news first came from the offices of senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins last week.

They explained that Rangeley will receive a grant for $117,800 from the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a Master Plan Study for the Steven A. Bean Municipal Airport.

Carrabassett was also informed that $325,850 is coming from the FAA for its airport apron project.

Collins and Snow announced that over $2 million was awarded to eight Maine airports, nearly a quarter of that in Franklin County.

“We are always looking at ways to make improvements here and these dollars will allow us to continue to improve our airport facility,” Perry Ellsworth, Rangeley Town Manager, said.

The committee to work on the Master Plan will include aviators, non-aviators, members of the airport commission, a selectman and Ellsworth. The Rangeley airport with its 3,200-foot runway has seen great improvements over the years. The airport can accommodate small turbo-prop planes or King Air planes.

“We presently have 10 independently owned T-hangers built two years ago and two conventional hangers built 15 years ago,” Ellsworth said. More then $900,000 has gone into the airport over the past few years.

Ellsworth said they sent the grant out in early March when it first goes through the Maine Department of Transportation, and then on to the FAA. The town and the state will kick in $3,100 each for a total of a $123,000 study.

Carrabassett Valley completed its Master plan a couple of years ago. The construction of an expanded apron was on the high priority list as there’s currently a demand for new hangers. Right now the airport has nine hangers; with the federal grant six to 10 more spaces for tie-downs or hangers could be added.

The town leases the apron space to private owners to build hangers. Typically the lease is for 10 years.

Second home and condo owners like to lease hangers so they can fly in and out during winter months and keep their aircraft dry and safe while they’re here.

The engineering and construction bid process is complete, said CV town manager Dave Cota. Bruce Manzer will be notified that he will be doing the construction which should take about 30 days to complete.