Source: US DOT

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that it will award $14.8 million from the Small Community Air Service Development Program to help 20 communities in 16 states develop solutions to their local air service needs. These federal grants assist small communities across the country with maintaining and building air service options.

“Air service to small communities is crucial to regional economies, which is why we are proud that these grants will help improve air service in 20 smaller communities across 16 states,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Since the inception of the program, DOT has invested in more than 460 community-led projects. Grants are used to provide financial incentives for service, conduct studies on the possibilities of expanded service, and carry out marketing programs to promote existing local service, as well as address other challenges small  airports may experience. The financial assistance helps communities establish first air services, restore lost service, and provides support to establish new routes to improve connectivity and allow people in the community to fly more easily and affordably.

The 20 communities receiving grant awards this year are:

State 
Community 
Federal Funding 
CA 
Monterey 
$750,000 
IA

Dubuque
$1,500,000

ID

Idaho Falls

$950,000
IL 
Peoria
$500,000
IL
Springfield
$250,000
IN
South Bend
$750,000
IN
Ft. Wayne
$600,000
LA
Monroe
$500,000
MI
Traverse City
$750,000
MS
Gulfport-Biloxi
$365,000
MT
Billings
$1,000,000
ND
Fargo
$500,000
NY
Ithaca
$750,000
PA
Wilkes-Barre
$500,000
TN
Chattanooga
$750,000
TN
Tri-Cities
$900,000
TX
Del Rio
$1,200,000
VA
Lynchburg
$600,000
VA
Richmond
$1,000,000
WA
Yakima
$700,000
Total
$14,815,000

The Department received 48 applications from 26 states, requesting a total of more than $34 million.

The selected communities are contributing financial resources to supplement the federal support, reflecting a commitment that is important to the potential success of the proposed initiatives. Nearly all of the communities have established robust public-private partnerships to enhance community participation and facilitate access to air services, provided a specific plan and timetable for using their grant funds in a timely manner, and many have provided letters of support from interested air carriers.

Complete community proposals and the Department’s final order are available at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2023-0037.