Don Tuite wrote:

Some large aircarrier airports may be named directly because their
Congressional representative(s) have the pull to get a large sum of
money for a major project.
General Aviation airports are handled through block grants to each
respective state's aviation governing body. The state agencies then
appropriate their share of the pie based on local politics and need.

No.
Yes, for AIP funds it is.
For part 150 studies, there are separate grants available. Part 150
studies are normally updated every five years, but some airports don't
spend the money unless they are going to apply for AIP funds, which
require the the noise and environmental impact studies to be completed
when an AIP application is made.

The airport manager has to apply for the grant money. Feds and state
have different accounts available for disbursal. I posted the link
to www.airportgrants.com because my buddy Colleen has a business
assisting airports with grant writing. If you talk to her or her
partner, ask if you can get a copy of the summary of available grants
and how to get them that they did for the state of Nevada. It's a
long report.

We have a saying, "Anyone with a word processor can be an airport
consultant."
I have been on technical committees for four airports during the past 20
years. I know where the money comes from.

For GA airports, the feds will only provide 90% of the funding. The
local sponsor must come up with the remaining 10 %. In many states, the
state aviation agency provides 5% and the local sponsor provides 5%.
Very few local sponsors (ie- GA airports) have the financial means to
front the 10%.
If your local GA airport has money in the bank, you are an exception.
The biggest revenue source for aircarrier airports come from parking.
PFC's have added more money than landing and gate fees.

For air carrier airports, the feds only fund 75%, leaving the remaining
25% for local sponsor. These airports usually do not receive state
funding, but again, depending on local politics, something may find its
way into a state budget.

An airport consultant can complete the paperwork and hire other
consultants to perform the necessary studies, but they cannot directly
obtain AIP grants, and that is part of the money in the bill. I may be
wrong, but I think that is the type of funding Jay was asking about.
Money is scarce for GA airports. The majority of AIP funds available to
the states goes towards pavement replacement an overlays.

Examples:
New or replacement control towers are separate from AIP funds.
Soundproofing local homes is separate from AIP funds.
New runways and runway extensions come from AIP funds. Land acquistion
comes from AIP funds. Even new GA airports usually come from AIP funds.