DelDOT Awarded Federal Aviation Planning Grant

Money will fund a business plan for Sussex County Airport and a statewide aviation economic impact study

Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) was today awarded a $148,500 grant by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funding from FAA is for Aviation System Planning for Delaware. The grant was solicited by DelDOT's Office of Aeronautics to fund the cost of developing a business plan for the Sussex County Airport near Georgetown, and to develop an economic impact assessment of aviation development statewide.

DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt said, "DelDOT is pleased to be the recipient of this grant from the FAA. This funding will assist our agency in developing the case for future aviation investments throughout our state and create a business flight path for the facility in Sussex County."

"This funding complements perfectly the runway expansion and improvement project set to begin this fall at the Sussex County Airport. This is part of a larger strategy to attract new business opportunities in the aviation industry to Delaware," said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) "Not only will this federal funding support business and economic growth at the Sussex County Airport, but it will also help bring more good-paying jobs to the region."

The grant will also cover the costs of an economic impact video and brochure that will highlight direct and indirect employment and annual tax benefits to the State.

The funds from the FAA will cover 90 percent of the project cost. The FAA will provide $148,500 and the State match will be $16,500.