The Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport will be the beneficiary of a $69,000 grant from the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, city officials learned Tuesday.
“This is welcome news for those who work in Missouri’s aviation industry. These grants will provide much-needed revenue for the state’s airports at a time when revenues are declining due to a decrease in travel,” said Gov. Mike Parson in a news release.
“We’re happy the legislators remembered the role airports play in supplementing their community’s stability,” said Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport Director Gary Pride. “They realize essential flights must take place, and they want to keep employees working.”
Statewide, more than $152 million will be doled out in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $157,000 to 75 airports through the grant program.
Because Missouri is a block-grant state, Pride noted, the funds for the smaller airports will be handled through the Missouri Department of Transportation.
“Of the state’s non-commercial airports, only 11 of them got the $69,000, including Poplar Bluff,” Pride said.
There are no specific requirements for the use of the money, according to the governor’s office, but, Pride said, “the FAA is encouraging airports to use it for payroll.”
How the Poplar Bluff airport, which employees four people, uses its grant money will be up to the city manager, Pride said.
“We have urgent needs for money, and I’ll be consulting the city manager as to how to best utilize the grant,” Pride said.
The influx of money, Pride said, comes at a time when aviation in general has slowed dramatically because of travel restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Airport traffic is down to 15% of what it was, and we’re operating on probably 20% of the resources we were,” Pride emphasized. “We’re also not generating the fuel revenue sales we were.”
While general flights are down, Pride said, it’s important to note the airport is “still receiving essential freight, medical and government flights.”
Currently, Pride said, the city is looking at additional funding sources for the airport, “but this will help us in the short term.”
The grant money should be received locally in the next several days, Pride expects.
“The FAA says they hope to have it in the airports’ hands by April 21,” he said.