The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced last week that $9.925 million in grants would be issued to 16 communities under the Small Community Air Service Development Program.
Those communities, spread across 16 different states — and selected from 53 applicants — will use the funds to improve and develop their air operations, among other matters that include conducting needs studies and marketing programs. Each is contributing local finances to supplement the federal support, with many turning to public-private partnerships to realize the air service capabilities.
“This Administration is committed to ensuring that rural communities are not neglected and have access to the air services needed to be competitive in today’s economy,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.
The communities benefiting this year include: Fairbanks, Alaska; Bakersfield, California; Augusta, Georgia; Sioux City, Iowa; Shreveport, Louisiana; Lincoln, Nebraska; Farmington, New Mexico; Elmira, New York; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Florence, South Carolina; Rapid City, South Dakota; Brownsville, Texas; Roanoke, Virginia; Wenatchee, Washington; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Casper, Wyoming.