Bullhead City Real Estate Blog

FANTASTIC NEWS FOR OUR AREA . . .

LAUGHLIN/BULLHEAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PRESS RELEASE
Point of Contact: David C. Gaines, Airport Director
Information #: (928) 754-2134 or ifpadmin@frontiernet.net
Date of Release: September 12, 2008

The Mohave County Airport Authority, Inc. (Airport Authority) was informed by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday, September 8, 2008 that their application for a $500,000 grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) had been approved. The official Grant Offer and Agreement documentation was received on Tuesday, September 9, 2008. Following legal and administrative review, a ceremonial signing of the documents by Tony Dias, Chairman of the Board of the Airport Authority, will be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, September 15.

Concerted efforts to obtain scheduled air service at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (the Airport) have been underway for several years. In March of 2008, the Airport Authority secured the services of Mead and Hunt, a consulting firm that helps develop air service throughout the country, to assist in the effort. They prepared several reports which demonstrated that the region could support scheduled air service. With their guidance, the Airport Authority Air Service Development Committee, chaired by Lisa McCabe, embarked upon a formal campaign to seek local government, business and citizen support for the application. Key to success in competing for a grant was a federal requirement for the local communities to provide cash and in-kind contributions as a measure of local public support.

The application ultimately was supported with $125,300 in cash pledges and $320,595 in in-kind (largely for advertising) contributions. The extensive support from the area, including written support from Arizona and Nevada State officials, U.S. Senators Reid and Kyl, U.S. Representatives Porter and Franks and Governor Napolitano of Arizona, contributed immeasurably to the credibility of the application, which had to compete with many other applicants. The application was submitted on June 4, 2008.
Over the next several months the Airport Authority will set in motion the project goals and conditions in the administration of the Small Community Air Service Development Grant. The main goal is to establish scheduled air service by January 2009 to Los Angeles International Airport. Service to one of the major hubs in the world will provide maximum opportunity for the traveling public to connect Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport to national and international service. – END
(Read and/or Post Comments below)

Currently it is possible to fly to our area on charter flights offered through several of the Laughlin casinos serving a number of cities on a rotating basis. Pretty good deal, if your travel plans match the dates on which service is offered to the particular area you need. However, there is not currently any regular scheduled airline service between here and any airline “Hub” city where you can catch connecting flights to or from any destination in the country. We are hopeful this will change later this year.

The Mohave County Airport Authority, Inc. (MCAA), the entity that oversees the management of Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, is currently in process of submitting an application to the US Department of Transportation seeking a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant. The grant being sought is for $500,000 and would be used to help us attract a high quality airline carrier and ensure the success of the project once service begins.

One of the many criteria required to successfully obtain this grant is for the community to raise at least 10% as matching funding in cash, and preferably exceed that baseline amount to be in a more favorable position in this competitive grant process. We expect our city will be one of perhaps 100 seeking a grant this year and that only 20–40 cities will be awarded portions of the grant funds available. Many local businesses, organizations and private individuals have already pledged financial support and we are hopeful we can surpass the minimum $50,000 contribution by a wide margin. Monies raised in this effort will be used for advertising to support new airline service once established.

We anticipate knowing if we are successful in obtaining the grant sometime in September. If we do receive the funding it is possible that airline service would begin before the end of the year. Our goal is to establish service using a well known “branded” carrier to fly to & from a “Hub” airport where both local residents and visitors to our area can connect to flights reaching the entire country.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the MCAA I am very excited with the potential for this new program. I believe Commercial air service is critically important to the health, growth and prosperity of this tri-state community. The contemplated improvements will provide a significant boost to new economic development in our community, increased employment opportunities and help to enhance real estate property values.

I will keep readers posted on progress as we go along. If anyone reading this Blog Posting desires to make a pledge, contact me and I will help you prepare a Pledge Letter. Cash pledged will not need to be delivered until the grant is secured and a deal with an airline has been reached.

(Read and/or Post Comments below)