NH Delegation Announces Nearly $7 Million in Federal Grants for Manchester, Lebanon & Pease Airports from December COVID Relief Legislation
**Federal grants will provide economic relief to the three airports & will help support operations, prevent staff layoffs & combat the spread of COVID-19**
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $6,931,354 in federal grant funding to Manchester, Pease and Lebanon Airports through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law in December.
The continued operation of New Hampshire’s airports is needed to ensure essential workers and supplies are able to reach the state and to keep necessary travel open and available for Granite State businesses and industries. By providing urgently needed economic relief to Manchester, Pease and Lebanon Airports, this funding will help support operations at the three facilities, prevent personnel layoffs and back sanitization efforts combating the spread of pathogens like the COVID-19 virus. Senator Shaheen successfully led efforts, joined by Senator Hassan, in the Senate to provide funding to airports in the CARES Act.
“As transportation and shipping hubs, Granite State airports are fundamental pieces of New Hampshire’s infrastructure network and serve as catalysts of economic growth for our communities,” said Senator Shaheen. “These federal grants will provide urgently needed financial relief to Manchester, Lebanon and Pease Airports, allowing these three facilities to weather severe revenue shortfalls that threaten their survival, prevent staff layoffs, support sanitization and public health efforts and provide Granite Staters with reliable and accessible transportation. I’ll keep fighting for resources to strengthen and support New Hampshire’s infrastructure system to get through and recover from the COVID-19 crisis.”
“This $7 million in federal grants will serve as an important lifeline for New Hampshire’s airports that are struggling amid a pandemic that has devastated their revenues,” Senator Hassan said. “With this additional federal funding, Manchester, Pease, and Lebanon airports will be able to retain more employees and improve their sanitation efforts to protect against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. I will continue working with the rest of the delegation to secure much-needed federal resources to strengthen operations at our state’s transportation hubs, which will be essential to our economic recovery.”
“New Hampshire airports are crucial to our state’s transportation infrastructure and our local economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has put them under immense financial pressure,” said Representative Kuster. “These federal grants will provide badly-needed support to Manchester, Lebanon and Pease Airports to help avoid layoffs and ensure that they are financially secure, safe, and well-equipped as we recover from this pandemic and get our economy back on its feet. I will continue working in Congress to support our Granite State infrastructure systems and secure relief for those who need it during this public health and economic crisis.”
“New Hampshire’s airports are critical economic engines, employ thousands of Granite Staters, and have been vital to receiving and disturbing life-saving COVID-19 resources. But they have been hit incredibly hard by this pandemic,” said Representative Pappas. “I’m pleased that New Hampshire will be receiving these federal funds, which Congress approved last year, to help airports throughout the state prevent layoffs, improve health and sanitation efforts, ensure continuity of operations, and help our economy get back on its feet.”
“The federal assistance provided to the Airport through CRRSA has served to help stabilize Airport finances from continued erosion due to depressed demand for air travel as the pandemic continues,” said Ted Kitchens, A.A.E. and Airport Director for Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. “As a home to over 2,000 employees, the Airport serves a critical role in the regional economic ecosystem. These funds will be used to offset Airport debt service and will enhance the Airport’s readiness to respond to travel demand in a safe, efficient, and timely manner.”
Breakdown of Funds for Airports
Manchester, Pease and Lebanon Airports will receive a total of $6,931,354, awarded through grants appropriated by the CRRSA Act and administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funds can be used for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. Here is a breakdown of how the FAA will award the funds:
- Manchester-Boston Regional (Manchester) – $4,498,004
- Portsmouth International at Pease (Portsmouth) – $1,427,609
- Lebanon Municipal (Lebanon) – $1,005,741
