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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $12 Million in Grants to Help Small Communities Improve Air Service

Thursday, October 31, 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that it will award $11.99 million from the Small Community Air Service Development Program to help 14 communities in 14 states develop their own solutions to local air service needs. These federal grants assist small communities across the country with maintaining and building air service options. 

“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,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “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.” 

Since the inception of the program, DOT has issued nearly 500 grants, helping communities develop projects tailored to their own air service needs. Grants are used to provide financial incentives to carriers, 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 communities and their 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 14 communities receiving grant awards this year are: 

State Community Federal Funding
AK Fairbanks $900,000
AL Huntsville $1,000,000
AZ Safford $800,000
CA Chico $1,000,000
GA Columbus $220,000
LA Alexandria $1,000,000
MD Salisbury $800,000
MI Lansing $1,000,000
MO Columbia $1,000,000
MT Missoula $875,000
ND Grand Forks $1,000,000
NV Elko $800,000
OH Toledo $1,000,000
OR Medford $600,000
  Total $11,995,000

The Department received 40 applications from 25 states, requesting nearly $32 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 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-2024-0066.  

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