ROME, ONEIDA CO. (AP) -- New York's senators are hailing the re-admittance of Griffiss International Airport in Central New York to a federal program that qualifies it for improvement grants.

Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say the Federal Aviation Administration will re-admit Griffiss into the Military Airport Program, which uses federal funds to convert former military airports to civilian use. The senators say the former Air Force base will now get a grant for $270,000 to renovate hangars and make them more energy efficient.

Griffiss also will receive a federal grant for $475,200 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help plan long-term upgrades.

The senators say the upgrades will help make the airport a magnet for economic growth.

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