OCALA, FL (352today.com) – On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the Ocala City Council accepted a $220,000 federal grant to rehab the air traffic control tower at Ocala International Airport, a project city officials say is overdue but shouldn’t disrupt flights.

Council approved Resolution 2026-53, taking a Federal Aviation Administration Contract Tower Competitive Grant for work at Ocala International-Jim Taylor Field. The money comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grant does not require a local match.

The full job is estimated at $245,994. According to the public information officer for the City of Ocala, Greg Davis, the airport will cover the remaining $25,994. Davis said the airport has an enterprise fund and pays its own way, so the extra cost comes from airport revenue, not the city’s General Fund. Staff asked for more grant money. The FAA awarded $220,000.

The big-ticket items are painting the tower, roof work, and upgrades to the Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System, or ALCMS, which needs specialized engineering and design. The project also includes new window shades and four controller-compliant chairs.

According to Davis, the tower was built in 2009 and opened in 2010. Some of the equipment in this project is original. Other pieces have already been swapped out. The shades are a good example: They are specialized, expensive, and wear out faster than most parts. They have already been replaced once.

The lighting-control system has gotten software updates over the years as the airfield changed. It is now out of warranty and past its expected life. When the grant opened up, airport staff walked the facility, listed eligible equipment that was due for replacement, and built the project around those items, Davis said.

While work is being completed, there will be no disruptions to local operations.

Davis shared that once the grant is signed, staff will start buying equipment and hiring contractors. They expect the whole project to take about a year. The lighting-control system will take the longest. It has to be designed and built specifically for Ocala’s airfield.

The grant must be executed by September 14, 2026. Airport Director Matthew Grow is handling the project for the city.