$500,000 grant goes to airport to expand activities

By Bob Miller ~ Southeast Missourian

The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport will receive a one-time $500,000 boost from the federal government to help increase the use of the airport and keep ticket prices down, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

Cape Girardeau was one of 40 communities to receive grant money. One hundred and seventy-nine proposals were submitted by small communities.

The airport will have to come up with a $125,000 local match, an amount Cape Girardeau airport manager Bruce Loy is confident he can earn through area business deals.

The Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program, authorized by the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, allowed the Department of Transportation to award grants to up to 40 communities, no more than four from the same state.

Loy had not yet received the details of the grant Wednesday, but he said it was his understanding the money could be used for marketing, advertising or for trying a fourth daily flight to St. Louis.

American Connection, the only airline that operates out of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, provides three flights per day to St. Louis -- at 6 a.m., 11:19 a.m. and 3:10 p.m.

Angie Mayberry, manager of American Connection at Cape Girardeau, said the airline would be interested in adding another flight, but no details have been discussed. She said she believed the increase in business the last six months has proved demand exists to add a fourth flight.

Through May, the airport has seen a 32 percent increase in outbound passengers from a year ago.

In addition to keeping ticket prices down, increased business would also be beneficial to the airport because federal subsidization is based on the amount of outbound passengers. The airport would receive $1 million if it serves 10,000 outgoing passengers in a year. The airport has not reached 10,000 since 1999, but it has been estimated that the airport could come close to reaching that mark this year. So far, the airport has had 3,854 outgoing passengers, up from 2,917 last year.

Loy said he wouldn't make any decisions about how to use the grant until talking with area business leaders. While Loy wants to make improvements that would help area businesses, they may in turn be asked to provide some of the local match.

Loy said one way businesses could help pay the matching funds would be to set up business-related, travel-based escrow accounts, which would include funds to be used by the airport.

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce President John Mehner said the business community, in general, has been pleased with the progress at the airport.

"Everything has been positive about what's been happening with air travel," Mehner said. "We've worked with Bruce and they've done pretty detailed marketing studies about what people are looking for. We'll continue to work with him on those needs."

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson worked on the congressional transportation appropriations subcommittee to get $20 million in grants for 40 communities nationwide.

"It started at $5 million but we were able to ratchet it up to $20 million," Emerson said.

Emerson said she thought it was important to increase the funds from $5 to $20 million to help more small airports in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

"What we hope to accomplish is to be able to increase the use of the Cape Girardeau airport to make it a larger hub," Emerson said. "I'd love it to be like Springfield eventually."

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127