Money Will Support Local Air Service Development In Small Communities

The U.S. DOT has announced $5.15 million in grants that will go to nine small communities to help them improve local air service.

The grants will be provided through the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), which began in 2002 to help small communities address the economic challenges of maintaining local air service. Receiving grants this year are: Bullhead City, AZ ($750,000); Inyokern, CA ($450,000); Stockton, CA ($650,000); Hailey, ID ($500,000); Billings, MT ($750,000); Missoula, MT ($600,000); Santa Fe, NM ($500,000); Amarillo, TX ($750,000); and Port Angeles, WA ($200,000).

“Robust, dependable air service plays an important role in every community’s ability to connect to the national and global economies,” said DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx (pictured in file photo). “SCASDP has a tremendous record of making a lasting impact, and I know these communities will be our next set of success stories.”

Competitive applications demonstrate community and air carrier support, along with investment from other sources such as public-private partnerships. This year’s awardees met all of those criteria, committing more than $3 million in local financial resources in addition to other in-kind contributions.

Since the program’s inception, SCASDP awards have helped almost 400 communities develop aviation projects tailored to local needs.

(Source: U.S. DOT news release)

FMI: www.regulations.gov, Docket DOT-OST-2016-0037