The Tampa Tribune - A federal grant that will pay off

News Article

By Joe Brown

U.S. Rep. David Jolly has brought home the bacon, so to speak, to Pinellas County. The other day the Republican announced the awarding of $5.75 million in Federal Aviation Administration grant funds to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) to build space for two more gates and to replace asphalt aprons where airplanes park with more solid concrete. And it's not even an election year.

"The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is an economic engine and tremendous asset to Pinellas County, helping local businesses while providing a gateway for families and tourists looking to visit the area," stated Jolly. "In fact, passenger service at the airport continues to grow, reaching record levels. This federal grant will help ensure the airport is prepared to safely meet the demand for increased service in the coming years."

And even though Jolly didn't mention it, I'm sure it could be classified as a job-creator.

Indeed, if any airport is worthy of receiving additional federal money, it's St. Pete-Clearwater Airport. The facility has been a major player in Pinellas County's record tourism numbers the past few years and keeps setting new records for passengers flying in and out. Because its major airline carrier, Allegiant Airlines, has direct, low-fare flights from cities like Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Grand Rapids, Michigan, people can fly here nonstop, which probably encouraged many tourists to make this their vacation destination.

Although this grant could be considered "pork-barrel spending" that House and Senate members add to bills to benefit their districts, I don't think it would make Citizens Against Government Waste's annual list of wasteful projects. As Pinellas Commission Chairman John Morroni noted, "PIE generates over $752 million in economic impact annually. The airport continues to do an excellent job in managing its capital programs and maximizing its financial sustainability."

Airport public relations director Michele Routh makes an even better case for the grant in a news release:

"The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) is a federal grant-in-aid program that represents a major source of funding for airport development and planning. Funding is supported from user fees, fuel taxes and other revenue sources. Each fiscal year, the FAA apportions AIP funds into major entitlement categories. The FAA distributes the remaining funds to a discretionary fund. Airports throughout the nation compete for discretionary funding to help finance capital improvement projects. The FAA distributes these funds to projects that best carry out the purpose of the AIP, with highest priority given to safety, security, reconstruction, capacity and standards."

In other words, we're getting back some of the fees we've been paying for years every time we purchase an airline ticket.

Thanks to Allegiant, which flies to 43 cities from St. Pete-Clearwater, the airport had 1,247,987 passengers in 2014 -- a 23 percent increase from 2013 -- and those numbers are likely to rise. It could top the 1.4 million passengers who came through the airport in 2004. It's convenient for a lot of area fliers, especially those going to smaller airports who would require a connection (or two). I mean, where else can you get a direct flight to Bangor, Maine? Many passengers also save a lot of money when compared to other airlines going to the same destination from TIA.

Granted, the smaller-airport experience isn't for everybody, even with its shorter security lines and much faster check-ins. If you desire covered walkways to planes, more choices in food and enclosed parking lots, it might not be the place for you. But the facility is more than worthy of the federal grant Rep. Jolly secured, and he deserves praise for his effort.

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