An expansion project at the Sussex County Airport is nearly ready for takeoff.
The county council voted to accept a $724,000 federal grant this week to pay for the design of a 500-foot extension to the main runway.
The move is expected to help the existing 5,000 foot runway accommodate larger planes.
Airport Manager Jim Hickin said the county hopes the project will also help protect the roughly 900 people who work at the airport and neighboring business park.
The extension is expected to cost about $9 million. The county hopes most of the project will qualify for federal funding.
The airport hosts about 20,000 flights each year, Hickin said.
The county has considered eventually extending the runway to 6,000 feet.
Work is expected to get underway in 2012 and take about a year to complete, according to the county.