Area airports receive federal funding

Nearly $37 million in federal funding has been made available to Upstate New York airports that have been devastated by the pandemic, including more than $4.7 million for the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

Last month’s bipartisan COVID-19 relief package included $36.6 million for specific airports across Upstate New York, U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said this week. The funding was set aside to help airports stay afloat during the second wave of the pandemic.

“Air travel is vital to the connectivity and success of the upstate economy, which is why, as New York battles a second wave of the pandemic, I fought tooth and nail in negotiations to get airports the funding they need to keep services running,” Schumer said in a statement Thursday. “Airports serve important functions in many communities, especially in more rural areas, connecting people to the rest of the world and allowing for economic opportunities to land. In the new congress, I will continue to fight for federal funding to keep our airports open and operational and to make sure Upstate New York has the help it needs to revive and thrive.”

Funding for airports in the Finger Lakes region includes:
• Greater Rochester International Airport – $4.72 million
• Penn Yan Airport – $24,000
• Canandaigua Airport – $13,000
• Genesee County Airport – $13,000
• Finger Lakes Regional Airport – $13,000
• Dansville Municipal Airport – $13,000
• Perry-Warsaw Airport – $13,000
• Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport – $1.37 million

“Like so many airports throughout the country, the Greater Rochester International Airport has experienced a decrease in air travel throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “The $4.7 million in federal aid secured by Leader Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand will help our airport continue to adapt and improve our health and safety measures as we slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and hope to see air travel return to normal. Since the start of the pandemic, we have taken numerous steps to ensure the public health and safety of travelers and passengers, including our #ReadySetRoc initiative. These funds will help to ensure we can continue those efforts and provide the best experience for residents and visitors of Monroe County.”

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