The state of Illinois will invest $9 million in infrastructure improvements at 19 airports.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the investment Wednesday. He says maintaining and improving the facilities is necessary to ensure the safety of airport workers and meet the needs of travelers.

Quinn says the project will generate hundreds of jobs. It is funded by $7.3 million from Illinois Jobs Now, a multibillion-dollar building initiative Quinn signed into law in 2009. Another $1.6 million will come from local funds.

The improvement projects include the rehabilitation of a terminal and some taxiways, aircraft parking ramps and changes to major parking lots.

The state's aviation system includes nearly 80 publicly owned airports. A recent local economic impact study found the system injects more than $40.9 billion annually to local economies.