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Deer Lodge Today
By the People, for the People
Deer Lodge Airport to Receive $14 Million in FAA Funding for Major Upgrades
The rural airport will extend its runway, upgrade lighting, and improve safety standards over the next two years.
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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The Deer Lodge City/Powell County Airport in Montana has been awarded nearly $14 million in federal funding from the FAA to extend its runway by 1,200 feet, upgrade runway lighting, improve weather monitoring systems, and make other infrastructure improvements to bring the facility up to current FAA safety standards.
Why it matters
The Deer Lodge airport is a critical transportation hub for the region, serving recreational flights, medical and prison transport, refueling stops, military training, and agricultural spraying. These major upgrades will help ensure the airport can continue to meet the needs of the community and support economic development in the area.
The details
The airport's last major project was a runway extension in 2006, and the new funding will allow the facility to make long-overdue upgrades. In addition to the $14 million from the FAA, the Deer Lodge airport also recently received a $300,000 grant from the Montana Aeronautics Board. Project managers say the upgrades will be completed over the next two years.
- The Deer Lodge airport received the $14 million in FAA funding in 2026.
- The last major project at the airport was a runway extension in 2006.
The players
Deer Lodge City/Powell County Airport
A rural airport located about two miles west of Deer Lodge, Montana that serves recreational flights, medical and prison transport, refueling stops, military training, and agricultural spraying.
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration, which provided $14 million in funding for the Deer Lodge airport upgrades.
Montana Aeronautics Board
The state agency that awarded a $300,000 grant to the Deer Lodge airport for infrastructure improvements.
Travis Eickman
A manager at Morrison Maierle, the firm overseeing the Deer Lodge airport upgrade project.
Andy Galen
A project manager at Morrison Maierle working on the Deer Lodge airport upgrades.
What they’re saying
“Deer Lodge may not see an opportunity like this for decades to come.”
— Travis Eickman, Manager, Morrison Maierle
“So, truly, at the end of the day, we're trying to get the Deer Lodge Airport up to current FAA safety standards.”
— Andy Galen, Project Manager, Morrison Maierle
What’s next
The airport upgrades, including the runway extension, lighting improvements, and other infrastructure work, are scheduled to be completed over the next two years.
The takeaway
This major investment in the Deer Lodge airport will help ensure the facility can continue to serve the transportation needs of the region, supporting economic development and community access. The upgrades demonstrate the importance of federal and state funding for rural airport infrastructure.
