Military bases in Montgomery are getting about $22 million in federal funding.

US Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, announced Thursday afternoon that Maxwell Air Force Base will get $15 million for a commercial vehicle inspection gate. Another $6.8 million will go for the F-35 weapons load crew training facility at the 187th Fighter Wing stationed at Dannelly Field. The 187th is one of only three Air National Guard units in the nation getting the F-35 Lightning II, the military’s most advance fighter aircraft.

The F-35s are set to arrive at Dannelly in December, replacing the 187th’s aging F-16 fighters.

“It is important that we support our military and give them the tools to do their jobs,” said Sewell, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee.

The funding was several years in coming, said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed.

 

“We’ve been trying to chip away at this for several years now and she was able to help us close the deal,” he said. “We are grateful to have the support of our other congressional leaders as well as our U.S. senators as far as this is concerned.”

Maxwell and Gunter air force bases generate a $2 billion per year economic impact, said Doug Singleton, chairman of the Montgomery County Commission. The new gate at Maxwell will improve traffic flow into and out of the base, Sewell said.

The military funding is part of about $43 million in projects in the federal budget going to  Sewell’s district.

Other funding includes:

• $4 million for the City of Montgomery Blight Project.
• $4 million for the Birmingham Rails to Trails project.
• $2 million for the Lovelady Center in Birmingham.
• $1.5 million for restoration of the Historic Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma.
• $1.14 million for health care work force training in Demopolis.
• $1 million for the Thomasville Hospital.
• $750,000 for the Bethel Baptist Family Child Care Center in Birmingham.
• $595,041 for the J. Paul Jones hospital in Camden.
• $511,601 for storm shelters in Hale County.
• $521,100 for the Greene County Hospital and Nursing home in Eutaw.
• $500,000 for construction of the Orrville Public Library.
• $500,000 for Birmingham-Southern College.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.