University Park Airport to receive nearly $2 million in federal funding. Here’s what comes next
University Park Airport is set to soon receive more than $1.9 million in federal funding as part of the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill, according to a news release Thursday from U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
The $1.2 trillion bill, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15. But it was only Thursday that the specific funding for more than 60 airports in Pennsylvania was announced.
University Park Airport will receive the sixth-most funding of any airport in the state — behind Philadelphia International ($30.7M), Pittsburgh International ($11M), Harrisburg International ($4.4M), Lehigh Valley International ($3.36M) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International ($2.5M). More than $70 million overall was allocated for Pennsylvania airports in the 2022 fiscal year, with similar funding expected to be made available in each of the next five years.
“We’re pretty happy with the funding we’ve been allocated,” said Bryan Rodgers, director of the University Park Airport. “We’re grateful.”
Airports should receive direction on how the funds can be spent in the near future, although Rodgers said such funding is typically used for projects involving safety, security and maintaining the infrastructure, such as rehabilitating the runway pavement. University Park Airport will essentially have until as late as September to decide how to use the funds.
Rodgers said local officials have already compiled a list of potential projects that might be eligible for the funds. Whatever is ultimately decided, he said, passengers should see the impact first-hand.
“At the end of the day, this directly benefits the passenger because we’re able to accommodate and meet demand by making the airport accessible for the airlines and the operators that utilize the airport, which the traveling public in Centre County and beyond rely on,” he said.
Other area airports receiving funding include those in Altoona ($259K), Clearfield ($159K), Lock Haven ($159K), Reedsville ($159K) and Williamsport ($1M).
According to Casey spokesperson Mairead Lynn, funding for each airport was determined based on the number of departing passengers and the airport’s formal classification. Funding could fluctuate in future years based on changes to an airport’s departing passengers.
In 2019, a pre-pandemic year, about 193,000 passengers flew from University Park Airport — the second straight record-setting year for the airport.
In a news release, Sen. Casey said Pennsylvanians can expect similar funding announcements in the future.
“These investments will help stimulate local economies and create jobs across Pennsylvania,” he wrote. “I’m proud to say this is just the beginning of infrastructure funding coming to Pennsylvania — over the next few years, we can expect billions of dollars more that will strengthen our communities and our economy.”
