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Regional Aviation News
DOT Invites Applications For Small Community Grants
May 1, 2003
DOT this week invited small U.S. communities to apply for a total of $20 million in grants under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. This is the second year DOT will award grants under the program, which aims to help communities “address their local air service problems, such as high fares and insufficient levels of service.” The department said it might award grants to as many as 40 communities, no more than four of which may be from the same state. Last year, DOT received 180 proposals and awarded $20 million for 40 programs in 38 states. In yesterday’s request for proposals, DOT invited communities to develop their “own innovative solutions to their air service problems and demonstrate how federal funds would help address these problems.”
Eligible projects include subsidies and financial incentives to air carriers, studies and marketing programs, DOT said. DOT plans to give priority to cities that have high airfares compared with others; contribute financially to the project from sources other than airport revenues; have or will set up a public/private partnership to improve air service, and submitted proposals that will benefit a broad segment of the public by providing greater access to the national transportation system.
The AIR-21 bill, enacted in 2000, authorized the program. A supplemental appropriations bill signed April 16 enabled DOT to move forward with this year’s grants. June 30 is the deadline for proposals. -SL
Source: Aviation Daily, May 1, 2003
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