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Dutchess County will actively compete for the proposed grant dollars to further expand their existing economic development efforts at the airport and continuing to attract more private investment and well-paying jobs, both of which benefit Dutchess County residents and businesses through additional spending and tax revenue, officials with the county said.
The competition will provide $200 million in grants to accelerate investments in commercial passenger and cargo service airports, creating thousands of well-paying jobs and promoting even more economic development upstate.
Cuomo says that the competition intends to foster innovative, comprehensive, and forward-looking development plans. The state will award five airports approximately $40 million each.
The competition will fund projects that enhance safety, improve operations and access, reduce environmental impact, and create better passenger experiences, according to the governor's office.
The Dutchess County Airport is the second-busiest in the state, servicing more than 73,000 takeoffs and landings each year. In addition, the airport has an FAA traffic control tower, which is used by the FAA for training, and employs 117 workers, including county employees.
Another plus for the airport in the competition is its recent partnership with Dutchess Community College to establish a START-UP NY program. The new program will expand the school’s curriculum to include an Airframe and Powerplant program and attract maintenance facilities to the airport.
The airport will be competing against 75 other eligible airports.
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