The Gary-Chicago International Airport is eligible for $157,000 in federal grants through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday.
The FAA released a list of grants totaling $10 billion nationally and $96.5 million in Indiana, including $69,000 for Porter County Regional, $30,000 for Michigan City Municipal-Phillips Field, $30,000 for LaPorte Municipal and $1,000 for Griffith-Merrillville airports.
The CARES Act grants are intended to bolster airport operating and capital budgets while the COVID-19-related shutdown has drastically reduced air traffic.
“This $10 billion in emergency resources will help fund the continued operations of our nation’s airports during this crisis and save workers’ jobs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao in a statement accompanying the grant announcement.
Also among the 65 Indiana airports eligible for grants is Indianapolis International, for $52.3 million, and South Bend International, for $7.3 million.
Chicago’s O’Hare International is slated to receive $294.4 million, Midway International $82.3 million, and Lansing Municipal $69,000.
The funds are available for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities and airport debt payments.
The CARES Act also increases the federal share of other FAA infrastructure grant programs to 100% for fiscal year 2020.
The funds will be available as soon as an airport's sponsor executes a grant agreement, according to the FAA.
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