The Brewton Airport will get some much-needed improvements thanks to federal and state grant funds, Mayor Yank Lovelace said Monday.

The airport has received $81,744 in federal funds, which Lovelace said will be used to update the airport’s master plan and rehabilitate the airport’s beacon.

The city’s match for the grant will be $4,087, with the state Department of Transportation paying the same match.

“The state has not matched this grant in a long time,” Lovelace said. “It would have cost the city $8,000.”

The master plan is needed, Lovelace said, because it has not been updated in about 10 years. The airport beacon has not worked properly for some time and will be fixed thanks to the grant.

The city has been looking toward investment in the airport and surrounding property for some time. In recent months, the city’s airport committee has offered for lease 20 acres of property near the airport for possible economic development ventures.

Also, the city has an option through April 30, 2016, on 50 acres near the airport, which could also be used for economic development.