The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently awarded 14 communities nationwide $11.99 million in Small Community Air Service Development Program grants to develop solutions to local air service needs.
The program assists small communities with maintaining and building air service options. Awardees contribute financial resources to supplement the grants. Nearly all established public-private partnerships and provided a specific plan and timetable for using funds in a timely manner. Many awardees provided letters of support from interested air carriers.
“People in small communities across the country depend on local air service—as a resource in their lives and as a driver for growth in regional economies,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “With the funding we’re announcing today, the department is strengthening local air service in 14 smaller communities and helping Americans across the country get to where they need to go more efficiently and affordably.”
The awardees are: Huntsville, Ala., $1 million; Chico, Calif., $1 million; Alexandria, La., $1 million; Lansing, Mich., $1 million; Columbia, Mo., $1 million; Grand Forks, N.D., $1 million; Toledo, Ohio, $1 million; Fairbanks, AK, $900,000; Missoula, Mont., $875,000; Safford, Ariz., $800,000; Salisbury, Md., $800,000; Elko, Nev., $800,000; Medford, Ore., $600,000; and Columbus, Ga., $220,000.
The department received 40 applications requesting nearly $32 million.