Fairbanks, AK and La Crosse, WI are two of just 16 communities across the country to receive grants from the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Department received 53 applications from 35 states.

The $750,000 grant awarded to Fairbanks will be used for a revenue guarantee and marketing for new non-stop service to California.

La Crosse has also secured $750,000, which will be used for a revenue guarantee and marketing for new non-stop service to Detroit, MI; Newark, NJ; New York, NY; or Philadelphia, PA.

ASM North America, a division of UK-based Airport Strategy and Marketing (ASM), supported the grant applications by Fairbanks and La Crosse and helped with the submission process.

David Stroud, ASM's managing director, said: “It is fantastic that ASM North America has been instrumental in helping its clients to win this funding, which will be used to develop projects tailored to their own air service needs.

“The importance of air transport to smaller communities cannot be understated, acting as a key enabler to achieving economic growth and development. ASM is committed to helping clients like Fairbanks and La Crosse to identify and implement new route opportunities.”

In total, the U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $9.925m from the Small Community Air Service Development Program to help 16 communities in 16 states. The selected communities are contributing additional local financial resources to supplement the federal support.

Since its inception, the awards have helped more than 300 communities develop projects tailored to their own air service needs, such as providing financial incentives to carriers, conducting studies on the possibilities of expanded service, and carrying out marketing programs to promote existing local service.

The grants for Fairbanks and La Crosse come just weeks after ASM North America revealed plans for TakeOff, a new event taking place in October 2018 that is focused on smaller and non-hub regional US airports.

The two-day event includes a conference program and scheduled meetings, as well as informal social evening and industry networking opportunities.

TakeOff is being supported by Memphis International Airport and Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. It will take place at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis from 29-30 October 2018.

Find out more about ASM North America and TakeOff at http://www.asm-global.com