Congressman Cohen Announces $14.9 Million in Shelby County Coronavirus Relief Airport Grants

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Subcommittee on Aviation, today announced that four Memphis-area airports will receive significant funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act passed in December providing nearly $2 billion in federal grant funding to help airports affected by COVID-19.

The measure passed in December incorporated Congressman Cohen's successful effort to change the formula for airport funding distribution used under the first CARES Act to better reflect passenger traffic rather than airport debt. The previous formula led to significant windfalls for non-commercial and smaller airports.

Under provisions of the new bill, Memphis International Airport will receive $14,880,645, DeWitt Spain will receive $23,000, Millington-Memphis will receive $57,162 and Charles W. Baker will receive $13,000, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"I'm pleased that this funding will support our airports, airport employees and aviation infrastructure that have been so hard hit by the ongoing pandemic. This investment keeps our aviation industry strong as we await a return to normal air traffic, and is money well spent."