Airport Alert: DOT Announces Small Community Air Service Grants

The Department of Transportation today announced that 25 communities in 20 states will receive grants under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The grants total $16.9 million and will help communities with insufficient air service or high air fares.

According to the August 3 announcement, DOT received 48 grant applications from communities in 30 states seeking more than $33 million. The agency pointed out that this year's grants will be used to 'provide financial incentives to carriers, conduct studies on the possibilities of expanded service, and carry out marketing programs....'

The grants ranged from $250,000 for two communities to use for marketing programs and $1 million for another community to use for a 'revenue guarantee and to restore service' to a large hub airport. Overall, DOT has issued 400 grants to help improve air service to small communities.

'In so many of our nation's smaller communities, local air service is crucial to residents' lives and livelihoods,' DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated in a press release. 'We're proud to award these grants to help strengthen local air service in 25 smaller communities and help Americans across the country get to where they need to go more efficiently and affordably.'

Individual communities and consortia of communities are eligible to participate in the Small Community Air Service Development Program. However, DOT may not select more than four communities or consortia of communities from the same state in the same year. The program is also limited to 40 communities or consortia of communities in the same year.

The DOT press release, which includes the list of grant recipients, may be viewed here. The Order Awarding Grants may be viewed here.