Small Community Air Service Development Program - 2008

Order 2008-3-8
OST-2008-0100

On File at Federal Register March 31, 2008

Order Soliciting Community Grant Proposals - (From Federal Register) - Bookmarked

Order Soliciting Community Grant Proposals - (Form DOT) - Bookmarked

By this order, the Department invites proposals from communities and/or consortia of communities interested in obtaining a federal grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program to address air service and airfare problems in their communities. Proposals should be submitted in the above-referenced docket no later than June 6, 2008.

Small communities that meet the basic criteria and currently receive subsidized air service under the Essential Air Service program are eligible to apply for funds under the Small Community Program. Indeed, a number of EAS-subsidized communities applied in past years and some have received grant awards. However, grant awards to EAS-subsidized communities are limited to marketing or promotion projects that support existing or newly subsidized air services. Grant funds will not be authorized for EAS-subsidized communities to support any new air service. Furthermore, no funds will be authorized to support additional flights by EAS carriers or changes to those carriers’ existing schedules. These restrictions are necessary to avoid potentially adverse effects on EAS program subsidies and the operations of EAS carriers.

Communities or members of a consortia that were awarded grants in previous years and want to apply for a grant this year should be aware that (1) they are precluded from seeking new funds for projects for which they have already received an award under the Small Community Program and (2) they cannot accept a new grant while they are a party to an existing grant under the program, either as an individual community or as a member of a consortium.

By: Michael Reynolds