THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER.

Washington, DC – Senator Jay Rockefeller and Congressman Nick Rahall today applauded the news that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $500,000 to the Tri-State Airport in Huntington as part of the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). The additional federal funds will be used to help open new, non-stop service to either Cleveland, Philadelphia or Dulles/Washington Airports.

Senator Rockefeller, who serves as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security, authored the SCASDP program several years ago to help rural airports attract additional commercial air service flights and help to keep existing air fares low.

“Airports are essential to our state’s economic development. More affordable and frequent flights to West Virginia are an attractive incentive for businesses looking to invest in our state and hire our people. That’s why I fought to create this program, and why I continue to work to make sure that it has the funding it needs to help rural airports, not just in West Virginia, but around the country,” Rockefeller said. “These grants are hugely competitive and for Tri-State to win a second one is very impressive and indicative of the airport’s efforts to attract new service and the Department of Transportation’s confidence in the airport and this community.”

“Community Airports are incredibly important to our state’s economy and I’ve worked hard to facilitate funding and infrastructure improvements such as this to help these airports take off,” said Rahall. “More non-stop flights to big cities like Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Washington will enhance Huntington’s appeal as a business and travel destination and help attract visitors to the area from across the country.”

Under the terms of the grant award, the airport has to enter into an agreement with a commercial air carrier before September 19, 2008 before the federal funds can be spent. The airport is also responsible for raising $100,000 from local services to help encourage the new air service.

Nationally, 66 airports competed for SCASDP funding – Tri-State was one of only 16 airports across the country to receive the grant award.