BRYAN, Texas — Two airports in Bryan-College Station were awarded a number of federal grants totaling $1,441,135 as economic relief following the economic distress caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced today.
The funding, which was appropriated by Congress last month as part of the CARES Act, comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“As Texas reels from the economic destruction caused by the coronavirus outbreak, it’s important our airports have the resources they need to weather the storm,” Cornyn said. “I commend both the Trump Administration and leaders in Bryan-College Station who worked to secure these funds during this trying time.”
The CARES Act provides funds to increase the federal share to 100 percent for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and supplemental discretionary grants already planned for fiscal year 2020. Providing this additional funding and eliminating the local share will allow critical safety and capacity projects to continue as planned regardless of airport sponsors’ current financial circumstances.
According to the CARES Act:
- Primary commercial service airports, with more than 10,000 annual passenger boardings, will receive additional funds based on the number of annual boardings, in a similar way to how they currently receive AIP entitlement funds.
- All commercial service airports will receive funds based on the number of passengers that board aircraft there, the amount of debt an airport has, and the amount of money the airport has in reserve.
- General aviation airports will receive funds based on their airport categories, such as National, Regional, Local, Basic and Unclassified.
Coulter Field, in Bryan has been awarded $30,000, and Easterwood Field in College Station was awarded $1,411,135.00.
