U.S. Transportation Department gives $300,000 air service grant to V.I. Port Authority

Aug. 16--During a brief visit to the territory on Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a $300,000 grant to the V.I. Port Authority through the Transportation Department's Small Community Air Service Development Program.

The grant is supposed to help attract new air service from St. Croix to the mainland U.S., according to a Transportation Department statement.

Communities can use the grants to develop projects tailored to their own air service needs, such as providing financial incentives to carriers, conducting studies on the possibilities of expanded service and carrying out marketing programs to promote existing local service, the statement said.

LaHood made the announcement Wednesday at the hospitality room at Rohlsen Airport. V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen and Gov. John deJongh Jr. also were there.

While he was in the territory, LaHood saw the Christiansted bypass project on St. Croix, which is nearing completion, and also went to St. Thomas, where he viewed the Long Bay Road project. Both projects were federally funded.

Copyright 2012 - The Virgin Islands Daily News, St. Thomas