Paine Field to get a paltry amount of airport stimulus money
EVERETT — A formula that determines how much emergency aid U.S. airports receive during the COVID-19 crisis could deprive Snohomish County’s Paine Field of hundreds of thousands of dollars — if not millions — in stimulus money.
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced $10 billion in funding for the nation’s airports under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a stimulus program that includes funding for commercial and some general-aviation airports.
Commercial airports around the U.S. received grant amounts based on how many passengers they served in 2018. That leaves Paine Field out in the cold. Airline service at the Snohomish County-owned airport didn’t begin until March 2019.
In Washington, 62 airports will receive in all more than $310 million. Paine Field will receive $157,000. Arlington Municipal Airport and privately owned Harvey Airfield in Snohomish each will receive $69,000. The Port of Friday Harbor and Orcas Island airports will receive about $1 million each.
Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell brought up the issue on a call Tuesday with Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. “She has been in contact with both Snohomish County and the airport regarding the issue,” a spokesman with Cantwell’s office told The Daily Herald.
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