Marcy Kaptur

10/31/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/31/2024 11:06

Kaptur Announces $1 Million Small Community Air Service Development Award for Toledo Express AirportPress ReleaseJobs and the Economy

Toledo, Ohio - Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee announced that the US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $1 Million to the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport in federal investment through its Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) for a revenue guarantee and associated marketing plan to recruit, initiate, and support new service to a large hub. Congresswoman Kaptur wrote a letter of support for this project that can be found by clicking here.

This award will fund the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to pursue agreements with new service providers to return service to large hubs that will allow for connecting flights to worldwide destinations. A similar SCASDP award secured by Congresswoman Kaptur in 2011 allowed for service between Charlotte and Chicago. Congresswoman Kaptur previously represented the airport from 1983-2013, and resumed representation of the airport under new Congressional district lines in 2023. Service to Charlotte and Chicago was lost in 2022 under previous Congressional representation.

"I am thrilled to announce this $1 Million award that will help to restore greater passenger services to and from Toledo Express Airport. With unprecedented challenges facing our aviation community, this award will provide much needed support to strengthen commercial air service for residents of Northwest Ohio and our surrounding region," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "The expansion of commercial service to Toledo Express Airport is one of my top priorities after updated congressional districts brought it back into OH-09. We are now one step closer to making that dream a reality. I look forward to continued conversation and partnerships with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to boost our region's economic competitiveness."

"We are incredibly grateful for this Small Community Air Service Development Grant, as it directly supports our efforts to expand and improve air service at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport," said Thomas J. Winston, president and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. "This funding will provide us with additional resources to secure new routes out of TOL, ultimately making air travel more accessible for the residents of Northwest Ohio. We are excited for what this means for the future of additional air service out of Toledo's local airport."

The Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), is a grant program designed to help small communities address air service and airfare issues, and is managed by the Associate Director for Small Community Air Service Development under the Office of Aviation Analysis. SCASDP's provides a grant applicant the opportunity to self-identify its air service deficiencies and propose an appropriate solution. SCASDP can involve, among others, revenue guarantees, financial assistance for marketing programs, start-up costs, and studies.

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