Edinburg city leaders spent Monday at the Texas State Capitol where their visit was met with good news.

The Texas Department of Transportation announced the federal government has committed $1,600,000 in grants to expand the runway at Edinburg's airport.

Texas State Rep. Aaron Peña (D-Edinburg) said the improvements mirror the city's growth.

"We expect to triple in size, and we expect that the growth to go northward,” Peña said.  “Can't go southward anymore, so it's going to go northward. Edinburg is the future. The airport is going to be part of that future."

Edinburg is now the third largest city in the Rio Grande Valley.

City leaders are also asking Lt. Governor David Dewhurst for support in designating the Edinburg airport as an emergency preparedness staging area.

Action 4 News is teaming up with Rio Grande Guardian and Hosanna Health Care to bring the latest informatoin about the 2009 Leglislative Session.

To read the full story in the Rio Grande Guardian, click here.