Northwest Iowa — Some northwest Iowa airports are receiving some funding to help them deal with COVID-19.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration is awarding over $70 million in airport aid to 79 airports in Iowa to help respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This historic grant funding is part of the Trump Administration’s newly created Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security — or CARES — Act Airport Grant Program, an effort to provide unprecedented and immediate relief to American families, workers, and businesses.
In our area, $30,000 was allocated for both the Sheldon Regional Airport and the Sioux County Regional Airport near Maurice. Nearby, Le Mars and Cherokee airports both received $30,000 as well. Spencer’s airport received $96,000. Sioux Gateway in Sioux City received about $1.2 million, and Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls received $22.4 million.
The FAA says the funding will support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the sharp decline in passenger traffic and other airport business 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.
