The Eric Marcus Municipal Airport in Ajo is set to undergo significant enhancements thanks to federal funding. This development comes as a relief to many who have observed the airport’s decline over the years.
On Wednesday, the Pima County Board of Supervisors will deliberate on whether to approve the acceptance of federal grants, which amount to over $830,000. The county plans to match these funds with an additional $37,000.
Two grants have been secured, valued at $390,554 and $443,000, respectively. These funds are earmarked for improvements to the airport’s Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) and Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL), as well as updates to the electrical systems and vaults to meet current aviation standards.
Airport manager Anna Steiner highlighted the need for these upgrades, noting that the facility had suffered from neglect. “Things just have been not maintained,” Steiner explained. “And now that there’s more staff to focus and we see the problems, I see the problems, I’ve been putting in for federal and state aviation funding. And we’ve been very successful.”
Originally opened in 1942 as the Ajo Army Air Field, the airport was later transferred to Pima County in 1949. It wasn’t until 2023 that Steiner took the helm as the airport’s first manager and began seeking funding for necessary upgrades.
“There’s a lot of possibility for the airport, but it is remote and it has not been maintained,” Steiner said. “So it’s lost a lot of its luster and usability.”
Steiner is optimistic about the future, suggesting that the electrical upgrades could lead to additional improvements, like the installation of a weather station and a fuel farm. She believes these enhancements could spur economic growth in the area. “In my opinion, it’s bringing the airport into a safe and viable amenity, and then people can figure out economic development angles to capitalize off of it being there,” Steiner said.
Efforts to revitalize the airport have been ongoing. In 2025, the runway was completely repaved after being rated at the lowest possible index for usability. “So it’s baby steps, trying to get it to a point where you could tie it into an economic development with other sources,” Steiner noted.
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