Description
The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to provide financial assistance to small communities to help them enhance their air service. The program is designed to provide grants to communities that seek to provide assistance to a U.S. air carrier to subsidize service to and from an underserved airport, or to an underserved airport to obtain service to and from the airport, or to an underserved airport to implement other measures to improve air service. The Department will make up to $12 million available for FY 2023 grant awards. Eligible applicants include public entities, and eligible projects include those that provide assistance to underserved airports or communities. The application deadline is July 25, 2024, and the Department will review applications based on merit criteria and selection considerations. Some key points to consider include:
• The program is authorized to receive appropriations under 49 U.S.C. § 41743(e)(2).
• The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation.
• The Department provides assistance in the form of grants that are disbursed on a reimbursable basis.
• Eligible projects include economic air service studies, marketing of air service or an airport, air carrier recruitment, revenue guarantees to air carriers providing air service, start-up cost offsets, fee waivers, reimbursement of air carrier ground handling fees, travel banks.
• Cost sharing or matching is not required for applications, but applications that provide multiple levels of contributions will be viewed more favorably.