The Chehalis-Centralia Airport, Packwood Airport and Lewis County’s Ed Carlson Memorial Field in Toledo are due to receive a total of $113,000 in Airport Rescue Grant money thanks to funding allocated in the American Rescue Plan.
The Chehalis-Centralia Airport will receive $59,000, Packwood will receive $22,000 and Ed Carlson Memorial Field will receive $32,000.
According to a news release from U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office, the airports are among 57 in Washington state that will receive more than $217 million in total grant funding through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“The funding provides economic relief to eligible commercial service, reliever and general aviation airports,” read the news release from Cantwell’s office. “The money will help keep people safe and employed by reimbursing operational expenses, debt service payments and costs related to combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.”
Airports can also use the money as relief to in-terminal retail and concession companies. Funding is provided on the stipulation that airports continue employing at least 90% of their pre-pandemic employees for those airports that cover a majority of the traveling public, according to Cantwell’s office.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport received the largest sum of American Rescue Plan money with more than $175 million allocated. Other airports that will receive over $1 million in funding include: Spokane International, Tri-Cities, Paine Field, Bellingham International, Boeing Field, McAllister Field in Yakima, Pangborn Memorial in East Wenatchee, Walla Walla Regional and Friday Harbor.
Cantwell, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, helped secure the airport funding through passage of the American Rescue Plan. She’s previously helped Washington airports receive funding through the Airport Improvement Program.
