Jul. 17—EAST GRAND FORKS — The East Grand Forks City Council approved a $20,000 pledge during its Tuesday meeting to help support Grand Forks' initiative to bring additional air service to Grand Forks International Airport.
Grand Forks is in the process of applying for a $1 million small community air development program grant through the United States Department of Transportation. The program seeks to help communities improve issues with limited air service and high airfare prices. Grand Forks' application has received a letter of support from SkyWest Airlines for service to Denver in partnership with United Airlines, a requirement of the application. The earliest the funds would be expended, if they are needed, would be in 2025.
If successful, the grant would potentially
allow Grand Forks to have a direct route to Denver.
President and CEO of the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Barry Wilfahrt told the council that the team of local business leaders leading a fundraising match effort has already raised $130,000 of its $200,000 fundraising goal.
"What this will do is it'll end up making us more attractive as a regional airport hub, so people don't have to drive to Fargo and that they can fly out of Grand Forks," Wilfahrt said. "This will benefit both of our communities from an economic development perspective and from a business development point of view."
Applications with local funding and support pledges, especially those that have higher match ratios, have been more likely to receive air service grants in the past, according to a the Meehan Aviation Group, the consultants the city are working with on the project. The average grant application has local pledges matching 40% of the total grant award's funds. The funds for the program go toward the start-up costs of bringing a new flight service to an airport.
The Grand Forks City Council has already
approved up to $300,000 in local matching funds from their economic development funds.
Wilfahrt said that local pledges from businesses and organizations range from $1,000 to $20,000.
"I think it's a fair ask, the math works between the two cities," Wilfahrt said. "( Grand Forks') air service is our air service, so in the spirit of working with Grand Forks, I would encourage this council to act favorably."
Whether Grand Forks is successful in its grant award will likely be known by the end of the year. The amount of money available through the program is less than it has been in previous years, but Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski, who is spearheading the effort, said he would try to apply again next year if unsuccessful this year.
In other news, the council:
* Approved
ballot language for the city's November sales tax vote.
The city is asking residents to approve a 1%, 20-year sales tax to fund renovations and improvements to the Civic Center Arena and VFW Memorial Arena. Two questions will appear on the ballot this November, one for each project.
* Approved up to $24,000 for the East Grand Forks Economic Development Authority to use a search firm as it seeks its next director. A search firm may or may not be used, but the EDA wanted the ability to
widen the search if the current search is unsuccessful in finding a candidate.
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