Funding Arriving For Local Airports

Congressman Panetta Announces More Than $12.8 Million in Federal Funding for Central Coast Airports

Watsonville Municipal Airport

SALINAS — Today, March 14, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced the distribution of $12,892,025 infederal government grants for airportsin California’s 20th Congressional District experiencing severe economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funding for these grants comes from the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“As part of the CARES Act, these airports are receiving FAA grants to support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the sharp decline in passenger traffic and other airport business during the COVID-19 pandemic,”said Congressman Panetta. “This federal funding definitely doesn’t replace the steady stream of earnings that local airports typically receive, but it provides for a softer landing as our airports and their customers do their part to flatten the coronavirus curve and patiently work to get back to normal.”

The funds are available for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments.

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Local Airports Receiving Funds:

• Hollister Municipal (CVH)$30,000
• Mesa Del Rey, King City (KIC)$30,000
• Marina Municipal (OAR)$30,000
• Monterey Regional (MRY)$12,664,025
• Salinas Municipal (SNS)$69,000
• Watsonville Municipal (WVI)$69,000