RDM gets federal grant, eyes Phoenix flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday awarded Redmond Municipal Airport a grant of $500,000 for its effort to attract new flights between RDM and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The grant is designated to serve as a revenue guarantee and marketing of the new air service route, officials said.

RDM was 1 of 49 communities competing for the grant. Only 11 applicants were awarded the USDOT Small Community Air Service Development Program grant.

RDM will work with its airline consultant, Mead & Hunt, as well as the Central Oregon Air Service Team to recruit an air carrier to provide service between RDM and PHX.

“This is an exciting first step towards securing PHX air service and increasing the passenger options at RDM” said Redmond Mayor George Endicott.

“With the award of the SCASDP grant, the Redmond Airport and the Central Oregon Air Service Team are well-positioned to be successful in efforts to move ahead to secure non-stop, daily commercial air service between RDM and Phoenix as the next step in air service development for the region,” said Alana Hughson, CEO for the Central Oregon Visitors Association and COAST member.

“RDM has a proven track record in fulfilling the SCASDP grant deliverables and COVA is proud to commit our marketing and advertising support to help establish the inbound, destination demand for this vital new service,” she added.

Marc Henegar, chair of the city’s Airport Committee, said, “The grant will greatly enhance our chances of adding service to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport out of Redmond.

“Following the airport’s success in securing additional service to San Francisco and Denver over the summer and bringing back service to Los Angeles just in time for the holidays, the future looks very bright for air service to central Oregon.”

RDM most recently leveraged a SCASDP grant in September 2012 for the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) service which is provided by American Airlines.

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USDOT news release:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces $5.5 Million in Grants to Small Communities to Help Develop and Improve Local Air Service

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that the Department of Transportation would provide $5.5 million to help 11 small communities in 11 states develop solutions to improve their local air service needs under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP).

“Local air service is vital for connecting our smaller communities to the national aviation system,” said Secretary Foxx. “These grants will help communities across the country attract better air service and provide more travel options for their residents.”

The program began in 2002 to help small communities address the challenges of local air service, including high fares, insufficient service, and lack of competition. Since then, the awards have helped nearly 400 communities develop projects tailored to local air service needs, such as providing financial incentives to make new routes to small communities more economically attractive, conducting studies on the possibilities of improving service, and carrying out marketing programs to promote local service.

This year, the Department received 49 eligible applications from 29 states. The communities that will receive grant awards this year are: Tallahassee, Florida ($750,000); Salmon, Idaho ($150,000); Presque Isle, Maine ($250,000); Traverse City, Michigan ($750,000); Great Falls, Montana ($385,000); Fargo, North Dakota ($500,000); Redmond, Oregon ($500,000); Sioux Falls, South Dakota ($500,000); College Station, Texas ($475,000); Pasco, Washington ($750,000); and Riverton, Wyoming ($481,810).

The communities that have been selected are contributing over $4.6 million in local financial resources to complement the federal support. Many communities have also pledged in-kind contributions to support these air service initiatives, reflecting a level of community commitment that is critical to the success and sustainability of the proposed initiatives. The communities have established extensive public-private partnerships to expand community participation in developing access to air services. Many provide letters of support from the community and interested air carriers, and they have all provided specific plans for using their grant funds in a timely manner.