Congresswoman Norma J. Torres announces $36 million for Inland Empire Airports
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) announced that Ontario International Airport (ONT) received federal grants totaling more than $36 million and that Chino Airport (CNO) received an additional $350,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), legislation championed by Congresswoman Torres.
"As the Inland Empire recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, travel and e-commerce remains crucial to keeping our economy up and running," said Representative Torres. "Across our state, the demand for travel and air-transported materials is higher than ever, while those responsible for providing those services are still struggling with the crushing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm glad our community is already receiving support from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I'll continue to fight for funding and assistance to ensure our regional infrastructure is prepared to keep our recovery on track."
With the rise in e-commerce, Ontario International Airport has served an increasingly vital role in the nation's supply chain. The ARPA grants for $24,818,964 and $2,332,785 will help with costs related to operations, personnel, sanitization, and helping stop the spread of COVID-19 at the airport and provide relief for rent and other fees, respectively. $9,684,906 from the IIJA will go to projects deemed eligible by the Federal Aviation Administration. In July, ONT received $5 million in federal funds for runway repairs, due to Congresswoman Torres' efforts.
The $59,000 from ARPA will also address costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, and janitorial services at Chino Airport. The $295,000 from IIJA will fund eligible projects, such as noise mitigation and airport upgrades and improvements.
ONT was the fastest-growing airport in the United States in 2019, according to Global Traveler. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport, which before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan.
To date, Congresswoman Torres has announced $3.5 billion in coronavirus relief for the Inland Empire. To learn more, click here.
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