Department of Defense Contributes to Local Airport Runway Rehab Project - The runways remain clear prior to flights arriving and departing at the Albert J. Ellis airport in Richlands, North Carolina, August 23, 2023. Over the past 52 years the airport has grown and its facilities have been maintained, refreshed and upgraded to meet the current and future needs of the region. The Department of Defense recently contributed $2M to a $11M runway rehabilitation project at the airport as part of the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot (DCIP) Program which is designed to address deficiencies in community infrastructure, supportive of a military installation, in order to enhance military value, installation resilience, and military family quality of life. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jennifer E. Douds)