Boulder City Municipal Airport just landed a $10 million federal grant that will finally help get its long-planned air traffic control tower off the ground, city officials said Tuesday. The money is expected to cover roughly half of construction costs and clears a major hurdle for a project city leaders say will boost safety amid heavy tour and general-aviation traffic. Construction is slated to begin this fall, with the tower expected to be operational by summer 2028.
FAA selection and what it funds
The award appears on the Federal Aviation Administration’s FY2026 Contract Tower Program recommended selections, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA list notes the recommendation for Boulder City (BVU) and says the grant will “fund approximately half of the construction costs,” with the airport sponsor expected to provide the remainder.
City reaction and timeline
In a news release, the city said the project is in the design phase and that the selection of a Construction Manager at Risk was completed in January 2026. Airport Manager Marissa Adou called the grant “a major milestone for the Boulder City Municipal Airport,” and City Manager Ned Thomas said the news “arrived right on schedule,” per Boulder City. The release also notes the airport records about 52,000 annual operations and describes BVU as the third-busiest airport in Nevada.
What the grant pays for
The FAA’s FY2026 selections show a number of airports receiving large awards this cycle and place Boulder City among the larger allocations, the agency document indicates. Local coverage by the Las Vegas Review-Journal also reported on the award and the city’s construction timeline.
Local debate and long-term impact
Accepting federal tower funding carries long-term grant assurances that can limit an owner’s ability to close or repurpose an airport, a live policy point in Boulder City’s recent conversations about the airfield. Local reporting documented council discussions this spring over whether to resume taking federal grants or preserve the option to pursue closure in the future, which would have major implications for land use and housing, according to Boulder Reporting Lab.
Next steps
City and FAA officials say they will continue working through final design and procurement steps before construction begins, and that more project details will be posted as plans progress. The airport’s project page is the city’s primary hub for updates and contact information, and stakeholders can find the latest from the Boulder City Municipal Airport.
