AUSTIN, Texas — Airports across the country will receive a collective $8 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help keep airport workers employed, fund construction projects and help financial recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal funds come from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which President Joe Biden signed into law in March.
The Lone Star State will receive the third-most amount of funds ($689,928,612), according to the allocation list. California will receive the most ($899,826,548), and Florida is slated for the second-most ($724,091,795).
There are a plethora of Central Texas airports included in the federal funding allocation. KVUE's Bryce Newberry combed through the list and broke down of how much money local airports will get:
- Austin-Bergstrom International: $61,437,443
- San Marcos Regional: $148,000
- Georgetown Municipal: $59,000
- Giddings-Lee County: $32,000
- Gillespie County: $59,000
- Lago Vista – Rusty Allen: $32,000
- Lampasas: $22,000
- Llano Municipal: $32,000
- Lockhart Municipal: $32,000
- Fayette Regional Air Center: $32,000
- Taylor Municipal: $32,000
- Burnet Municipal Kate Craddock Field: $32,000
- Smithville Crawford Municipal: $32,000
“The money will help keep people safe and employed by reimbursing operational expenses, debt service payments and costs related to combating the spread of pathogens at the airport," a release from the FAA said. "Airports can also use the money to provide rent relief to in-terminal retail and concession companies. The funding requires that airports continue to employ at least 90% of their pre-pandemic employees for those airports that cover a majority of the traveling public.”
For additional program information and the amount of funding each airport is eligible for, visit the FAA’s website.
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