[Press Release] : City of Columbia Applies for a Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Kathy Frerking, Columbia Regional Airport Manager,
573.442.9770

City of Columbia Applies for a Small Community Air Service Development
Program Grant  
COLUMBIA, MO (April 7, 2006) -- The City of Columbia has applied for a
Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) Grant through
the Department of Transportation.   The City is requesting $325,000 in
federal assistance to facilitate the implementation of a $546,901 air
service improvement initiative.  The project goal is to retain and
improve air service to a broad section of Central Missouri's traveling
community so as to mitigate the need to drive long distances to access
the national air transportation system.  The plan to accomplish this
goal is to recruit an air carrier to provide service between Columbia
Regional Airport and a major airline hub. 

Columbia Regional Airport Manager Kathy Frerking says, "If the City
is awarded such a grant, we anticipate using the funds in the following
areas.

Airline presentation packages and marketing visits for the solicitation
of new airline service to major airline hubs such as Chicago or Dallas.

Airline promotional / marketing support. 
Public outreach programs to surrounding communities to build support of
air service from Columbia Regional Airport. 
Possible 'risk abatement' programs to offset initial operating
losses of new airlines." 
The Department of Transportation usually announces award of these
SCASDP grants in August or September.

Located twelve miles south of Interstate 70 on U.S. Highway 63,
Columbia Regional Airport has been providing reliable and convenient
commercial and general aviation services to central Missouri since
1968.

-30-

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