Aviation Solutions: Small Communities Air Service Development

Problem

Summit Strategies has helped to resolve outstanding aviation related issues including problems associated with a lack of air service into and out of small regional airports, air traffic control tower funding, noise mitigation issues, and issues associated with federal rules governing the redevelopment of airport property purchased with federal noise mitigation funds.

Summit Solution

Summit Strategies helped secure funding from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Small Communities Air Service Development (SCASD) grant program for the Walla Walla Regional Airport (AWL) located in Walla Walla, Washington and the Tri Cities Airport (PSC) located in Pasco, Washington.

Summit’s coordinated lobbying effort involved:

  • Lobbying

  • Grant Support

Result

In 2012, AWL received a $250,000 Small Communities Airport Assistance grant to support marketing efforts that have led to significant increases in passenger enplanements and new flights to AWL. In 2015, PSC secured a $750,000 SCASD grant which will be used to support new non-stop air service between Pasco and Southern California, increasing economic opportunities and spurring growth in the region. Pasco was one of just eleven communities in eleven different states to be awarded an air service development grant that year.