Smith Field gets grant

Siloam Springs Municipal Airport (Smith Field) is one of several Arkansas airports eligible to receive a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) because of the impact of covid-19, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Rogers).

“Smith Field serves as an important local transportation gateway for commerce and travel,” Womack said. “I thank the FAA for quickly dispersing these funds, which benefit Siloam Springs and serve our greater community.”

Smith Field is eligible for a $30,000 grant under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to Holland Hayden, communications manager for the city. The grant money will need to be spent on operational use only, such as maintenance, payroll and upkeep of the airport, Hayden said.

“This grant will help Smith Field continue operations and provide economic stability into the future after the coronavirus crisis ends,” said U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Rogers).

The city board will have to approve the grant, however no timetable has been set as to when the issue will go before the board, Hayden said.

“The airport has seen a decline in fuel sales consistent with what is being seen on a national level,” Hayden said.

Smaller airports have also been impacted by covid-19 due to some travel restrictions in place, closures of popular tourist destinations and the practice of social

distancing, Hayden said.

The CARES Act recently became law with the support of the Arkansas delegation which consists of U.S. Senators Boozman and Tom Cotton (R-Dardanelle) and Representatives Rick Crawford (R-Jonesboro), French Hill (R-Little Rock), Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs) and Womack, the press release states. The CARES Act includes $10 billion for airports nationwide, the press release states. Arkansas is eligible for $51 million for state airports impacted by covid-19, the press release states.

One of the provisions of the law was to increase funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and eliminate the need for grant recipients to contribute a matching percentage of project costs, the press release states.

The CARES Act also creates a new funding stream that allots money based on formulas that include the number of annual boardings and the amount of debt and money in reserve for each airport, the press release states.

The other airports in Arkansas’ Third Congressional District to receive funding include:

• Bentonville Municipal

Airport

• Boone County Airport in

Harrison

• Carroll County Airport in

Berryville

• Drake Field Airport in Fayetteville

• Fort Smith Regional Airport

• Marion County Regional

Airport inFlippin

• Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville

• Rogers Executive Airport.