U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Fargo and Grand Forks will receive more than $1 million in grants to help the cities improve their airline service.

The North Dakota communities were among 29 across the country receiving a total of $15 million from the department's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The grants help small communities develop their own solutions to local air service needs.

Fargo received a grant of $750,000 for marketing and a revenue guarantee to attract new service to Dallas.

A $300,000 award to Grand Forks will be used for revenue guarantee and marketing for westbound service.

Public and private sector partners will contribute an additional $300,000 for the project in Fargo and $441,100 for Grand Forks.

- Associated Press