The Soldotna City Council passed an ordinance that would authorize an agreement with the FAA for a grant provided under the American Rescue Plan Act for the Soldotna Municipal Airport. It would also increase estimated revenues and appropriations by $32,000 in the airport fund. The ARPA grant would provide economic relief for the municipal airport.
Stephanie Queen, City Manager, told Soldotna City Council:
“This ordinance would allow us to sign a grant agreement and accept funds for the purchase of funding operations at the airport. Its through the ARPA legislation, but it’s similar to previous COVID-related relief bills where they had designated specific funding for airport use and its flexible in that it can fund operational expenses. Acceptance of this grant will have the effect of reducing our expenditures in the airport account by $32,000. Melanie (Imholte, Finance Director) would work to report eligible expenses as we incur them, but it’s broad in that it can fund things that otherwise our airport fund would have to fund.”
The grants reportedly are available at a 100% federal share with no local match contribution required. Grant funds will be applied to operational expenses with reimbursement from the FAA directly related to the airport incurred on or after January 20, 2020. Operational expenses are those necessary to operate, maintain, and manage an airport.
Ordinance 2021-027 unanimously passed the Soldotna City Council.
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Photo credits courtesy of Soldotna.org.
