WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $14.8 million grant to Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD).

The federal funds may be used for operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and to combat the spread of pathogens at the airport.

“I am pleased to help Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport land this federal grant. Airports were hit hard by the pandemic and these funds will help sustain them financially and keep the traveling public safe,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD), helped lead efforts to make these funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act.  “This is flexible funding that can be used broadly to help the airport return to pre-pandemic levels of service.”

“The pandemic presented a whole new set of challenges for keeping air travelers safe,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “This federal support will cover the costs of additional safety measures that have been put in place at T.F. Green, and help get our flagship airport and tourism industry back up to pre-pandemic levels.”

“Year after year, T.F. Green International Airport is ranked as one of the country's best airports,” said Rep. Jim Langevin. “Over the last two years, T.F. Green has risen to the challenge presented by the pandemic and taken every measure to keep travelers healthy. I'm thrilled that these federal funds will support T.F. Green's work, as they continue to expand, renovate, and keep travelers safe.”

“This $14.8 million grant will help Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport return to its pre-pandemic levels of service in a safe way -- for both staff and travelers,” said Congressman Cicilline. “This funding was made possible by the American Rescue Plan, and I'm thrilled to say that more is on the way thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Biden signed into law earlier this week. The tourism industry was hit especially hard during the pandemic, and I'm glad that we were able to provide this funding that will help T.F. Green get back up and running at full capacity, benefiting travelers coming to and from Rhode Island.”

“The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) is extremely grateful for the hard work of Senator Jack Reed and our Congressional delegation in securing American Rescue Plan Act funding for Rhode Island's public airports. These investments help make Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport more attractive to airlines which help support over 19,000 jobs and $2.6 billion in state economic activity,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. “Senator Reed continues to deliver for Rhode Island. The infrastructure of Rhode Island’s primary commercial airport has been maintained and upgraded thanks to his leadership.” 

A total of $8 billion in federal aid under the American Rescue Plan Act is being awarded to keep U.S. airports running and airport workers on the job as the aviation industry recovers from the devastating health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This award follows other good economic news for the airport: With President Biden signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law earlier this week, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation will receive a total of $45 million in additional federal funding over the next five years.