North Adams Airport to Receive Federal Grant
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Airport Commission accepted a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grant to assist in airport operation cost.
The Airport Commission held its first remote meeting Tuesday and accepted a grant of $30,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration to help fund airport operations. The commission has not met since its last meeting in March was canceled.
"It seems to me that option where we are just using the funds for operational expenses and payroll, utilities, and bills makes the most sense," Chairman Jeff Naughton said. "We don't have any land development projects going on right now."
There was a question if the airport needed this amount but Administrative Officer Michael Canales said there is a need at the airport.
The grant is part of $10 billion set aside in the act for commercial and general aviation airports.
This funding is being distributed to support continuing operations and replace lost revenue resulting from the novel coronavirus pandemic. The grant formula factored in an airport's type, size and passenger volume.
The money can be used for capital expenditures, operating expenses including payroll and utilities, as well as debt.
Pittsfield Municipal Airport also received $30,000; Logan International got $141,340,992.
Other than that, there was little to talk about during the meeting that was wrapped up in under five minutes.
Canales did add that a regular commission meeting via Zoom will be scheduled.
Before closing, airport user Dan Caplinger asked why Harriman and West is closed this week.
Canales said the runway is being repainted.
"They are grinding down and they will be repainting the runway," he said. "It was our turn to get our airport touched up."
He said this is a state Department of Transportation project.
Tags: airport commission, federal grants,
