Region's airports get $46.2 million in coronavirus-related grants

Pittsburgh International Airport will get a $36 million federal grant to help cope with the impact of coronavirus-related shutdowns.

The grant represents the lion’s share of the $46.2 million provided to airports in Western Pennsylvania.

The Federal Aviation Administration grants to the state’s 63 airports were part of the CARES Act, which Congress passed in March to provide financial aid to those impacted by the battle against covid-19. The FAA provided Pennsylvania’s 63 airports with more than $239 million in funding.

“With a steep decline in travel and revenue due to the covid-19 pandemic, our airports need help to continue operations and save employees’ jobs,” Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, said in a statement.

The FAA plans to implement a streamlined grant process to expedite this funding for critical airport needs, Casey said.

Bob Kerlik, a spokesman for Pittsburgh International Airport, could not be reached for comment.

The Westmoreland County Airport Authority will use its $2.41 million grant to pay the local share of an $8 million project to connect the taxiways to the main runways at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, said Gabe Monzo, airport authority executive director. The local share represents 5% of the total project cost, Monzo said.

Money also may be used to help with employee costs. Under the CARES Act, an employer can use the grant money if it keeps 90% of its workforce during the shutdown, Monzo said.

The Westmoreland County Airport Authority’s Rostraver Airport and the Indiana County Jimmy Stewart Field each will receive $30,000 grants.

The John Murtha Johnstown/Cambria County Airport in Richland received $5.12 million.

The Butler County Airport and the Beaver County Airport near Beaver Falls will both receive $69,000 grants.