Feds drop financial fuel to Michigan airports
(WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan airports are splitting nearly 257-million-dollars in federal grants to help respond to the COVID-19 health emergency.
The Michigan grant award to 94 airports in the amount of $256,958,771 is from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration.
The grant funding is part of the Trump Administration’s newly created Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant Program.
Four northern Michigan airports with the largest grant amounts include Traverse City, Alpena, Pellston and Sault Ste. Marie, but dozens of other much smaller airports across northern Michigan are also slated to receive some financial help.
- Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City will receive $14,819,260
- Alpena County Regional will receive $17,903,142
- Chippewa County International Airport in Sault Ste. Marie will receive $1,095.968
- Pellston Regional Airport in Emmet County is slated to receive $1,104,773
Just a few of the smaller airports receiving some grant money include:
- Antrim County Airport in Bellaire will receive $30,000
- Beaver Island Airport will receive $20,000
- Bois Blanc Island Airport will receive $20,000
- Harbor Springs Airport will receive $30,000
- Mackinac Island Airport will receive $30,000
- Manistee County Blacker Airport will receive $30,000
Airports across the country will see similar grant awards that officials say will support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the sharp decline in passenger traffic due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The funds are available for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments.
“This $10 billion in emergency resources will help fund the continued operations of our nation’s airports during this crisis and save workers’ jobs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
To see the grant distribution amounts in an interactive map click below: