$175 Million going to Sea-Tac, $16 Million going to Spokane International
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced more than $217 million in grants from the Airport Rescue Grants program awarded to Washington airports to help them recover from losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cantwell helped secure this funding in the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021.
The funding provides economic relief to eligible commercial service, reliever, and general aviation airports. The money will help keep people safe and employed by reimbursing operational expenses, debt service payments, and costs related to combating the spread of pathogens at the airport. Airports can also use the money to provide rent relief to in-terminal retail and concession companies. The funding requires that airports continue to employ at least 90 percent of their pre-pandemic employees for those airports that cover a majority of the traveling public.
The State of Washington received more than $217 million in total grant funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Airports receiving more than $1 million in funding include:
| Airport | Funding |
| Seattle-Tacoma International | $175,792,650 |
| Spokane International | $16,802,219 |
| Tri-Cities | $5,591,753 |
| Snohomish County (Paine Field) | $5,415,770 |
| Bellingham International | $4,466,863 |
| Boeing Field/King County International | $2,124,612 |
| Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field | $1,401,487 |
| Pangborn Memorial (East Wenatchee) | $1,373,844 |
| Walla Walla Regional | $1,284,755 |
| Friday Harbor | $1,100,547 |
Overall, 57 airports throughout the state will receive funding. A full list of recipients can be found HERE.
Senator Cantwell has long supported airports throughout the State of Washington. Through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Senator Cantwell has helped airports throughout Washington state get funding. In May 2021, Cantwell announced $23 million in AIP funding going to Sea-Tac, Bellingham, Walla Walla, and Pullman-Moscow airports. In February 2020, she helped secure funding for Pullman to start a new nonstop route to Denver. In just the last couple of years, she has successfully secured $23 million in federal funding to support airport upgrades and the construction of a new runway at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport. In 2017, she secured $5.2 million to make other critical improvements at the airport. Cantwell also recently helped secure funding to help establish nonstop air service between San Francisco and Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee.
A full map of all American Rescue Plan Allocations is available HERE.