State Grants Will Upgrade Facilities, Support More Than 8,400 Jobs

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett announced Monday that a $3.4 million state investment will improve safety and operations at 20 Pennsylvania airports that support more than 8,400 jobs.

"Aviation, just as Pennsylvania's other transportation assets, supports jobs and strengthens our state economy," Gov. Corbett (pictured) said. "These investments position these airports to offer better service and generate additional business activity."

The state funding – $3.4 million from PennDOT's aviation development program – comes from the state's jet fuel tax and leverages $1.5 million in local matching funds. The program complements the new Multimodal Fund, created by Act 89, which dedicates $6 million to aviation in this fiscal year alone. Last November, Gov. Corbett signed Act 89, a far-reaching transportation program that clears the way for significant investments in all transportation assets.

"Providing transportation options is vital to moving goods and people," Gov. Corbett said. "That's why we've invested $50 million in aviation since January 2011, and Act 89 will help us build on that progress."

Public-use airports in the state are eligible for the aviation development program. Airports eligible for the federal block grant program include: general aviation airports, designated reliever airports, and non-primary commercial service airports (those with fewer than 10,000 annual passengers) that are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

FMI: www.dot.state.pa.us