Skift Take
Uncle Sam is providing to airports enhancement grants an updated giveaway, without matching requirements. Are airports going green because it’s useful for the environment or useful to them?
Ruthy Muñoz
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $766 million in 2021 airport improvement grants to numerous midsize and small airports across the nation looking to improve safety and sustainability, the company stated in a press release.
The FAA stated it would be executing the airport rescue grants rapidly to assist in the financial healing of the country’s airports. The grant will pay for tasks at 279 airports in 44 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Unlike in past years when airports have actually been responsible for providing a local match for funds received, these grants will include no strings connected.
“These grants will improve security, sustainability and ease of access at airports throughout our nation,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.
And thanks to almost $100 million offered by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, this round of airport grant receivers will be totally moneyed by the federal government, the FAA stated.
The American Rescue Strategy’s airport rescue grants will use to all airports receiving airport improvement grants in 2021, waiving the need for airports affected by the pandemic to pay a local match.
With a focus on the environment, going green was pressed to the forefront in the travel industry throughout the coronavirus pandemic. This 5th round of airport enhancement task grants this year consists of goals to increase access for rural, remote neighborhoods, ease of access for people with disabilities, and runway enhancements.
For instance, the FAA awarded $10.6 million in airport improvement grants to the Louisville, Kentucky airport and $4.8 million to Montana’s Great Falls International airport to enhance sustainability.
With this funding, the Louisville Muhammed Ali International airport will enhance energy performance by replacing 3 boilers with a geothermal system in the terminal to cool and heat up the building. The FAA said that the geothermal system would significantly reduce pollutants, such as ozone, carbon monoxide gas, and particle matter related to natural gas burning.
Alaska’s Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr. Memorial Airport will enhance rural availability with its $20.7 million grant by fixing the gravel pavement in the runway, taxiway to the parking area, the aircraft parking lot, and other airport improvements.
These improvements in Alaska will extend the life of the airport infrastructure and boost airport operations’ safety for the remote neighborhood solely depending on aviation for the transportation of people, items, and important services, the FAA said.
Airports in Charleston, S.C., and Fort Wayne, Indiana. gotten grants to improve availability for individuals with specials needs. The Wilmington, N.C. airport received $16.1 million to expand its terminal with an expanded checkpoint screening location, brand-new restaurants, retail areas, extra seating locations and satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act availability requirements.
Airports getting grants to increase safety and broaden capacity include New york city’s Adirondack and Long Island airports, Norfolk, Virginia, Alexandria, Louisiana, and Baltimore Washington International airport. These airport jobs will improve runways and taxiways.
Signed into law by the president in March, the American Rescue Strategy consists of $8 billion in Covid-19 financial help for qualified airports awarded through the Airport Rescue Grants administered by the FAA. It offers funding for primary industrial airports to offer relief for qualified airport concessionaires from minimum annual guarantees and rent.