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Smooth ladings will be awaiting aviators when they land on the Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport runway in Greenville.

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced on Thursday that $25.5 million will be spent on statewide improvements to airport infrastructure.

The Mac Crenshaw Airport will receive $3.114 million of the $25 million to go towards the reconstructing the existing runway.

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon said the grant money is a win for the city.

“This is a really big deal because the airport provides us with a lot of economic development opportunities,” he said. “We got a grant similar to this in 2000, which allowed us to expand the runway from 3,800 feet to 5,300. That length allows jets to land at our airport. With this money, the runway will now be in good shape for a long time.”

McLendon said the city’s match to the grant was 5 percent of the $3.5 million, which is $150,000.

“Basically we got a $3 million dollar project for $150,000,” he said. “I’ll take that all day long.”

The Federal Aviation Administration provided the grants, which are funded by the U.D Department of Transportation.

“These FAA grants support critical projects that aim to improve safety, security, and efficiency of airports across the state,” said Sen. Shelby. “Airport infrastructure plays a vital role in economic growth and development in Alabama, and I look forward to the progress that will stem from these grants.”

McLendon said work will begin on the runway after the first of October.