Augusta Regional Airport is pleased to announce it  has been selected as a grant recipient in the Federal Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Program in the amount of $800,000. The SCASD grant is designed to assist small communities provide additional air service. Grant funds are typically used to encourage and market new service, to support-existing service, or to restore lost service.

AGS’s SCASD proposal identified non-stop service to the Washington, D.C. market as the primary target. The Grant may be used as an airline revenue guarantee if air service is initiated into one of the targeted markets. Washington service is important to many local organizations and is statistically the largest origin and destination market at AGS.

The Grant requests are evaluated on the basis of public-private partnerships developed within the community, a strong show of support with matching local funds from community partners along with  letters of support from airlines interested in the possibility of initiating or expanding service.

AGS received pledges of $423,000 from community partners equating to a grant match of 52%. The $800,000 approved grant request was the second highest award for this year. In addition to the monetary pledges, the Airport received letters of support from our federal legislative body as well as local area businesses and organizations.

“AGS is excited to receive this award. This is an extremely important first step. The SCASD Grant will provide AGS additional leverage as we aggressively work to expand air-service for our region. I would like to thank our community partners including Augusta Richmond County, Columbia County, Burke County, City of North Augusta, Central Savannah River Area Business Lending, Cranston Engineering Group, Morris Communications,  and the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization for their monetary support in our endeavor to improve air service to the community,” said Herbert Judon, JR., Executive Director, Augusta Regional Airport. “Additionally, I would like to thank SRNS, Aiken County, CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon and American and United Airlines for their letters of support. A special thank you to Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator David Perdue, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Congressman Rick W. Allen for their continued support.”