The Colorado Aeronautical Board (CAB) recently approved\nFY2021 state and locally funded discretionary aviation grants for Colorado\nairports during their January 25, 2021 CAB meeting. The unanimous decision\nauthorized the distribution of $861,718 in state aviation fuel tax revenues\nthrough grants to four Colorado public-use airports under the Colorado\nDiscretionary Aviation Grant (CDAG) Program administered by the Colorado\nDepartment of Transportation\u2019s (CDOT) Division of Aeronautics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The grants ranged in size from $40,218 to $346,500. These discretionary aviation grants represent\nthe State of Colorado\u2019s participation in airport pavement maintenance and\nairport infrastructure improvements. The\nCOVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in air travel in 2020,\nand consequently, aviation fuel sales tax collections that support the Colorado\nDiscretionary Aviation Grant Program were drastically reduced. Due to these\ncircumstances, $5.9 million in state aviation grants to 14 airports that had\nbeen programmed for FY 2021 have been postponed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Colorado Division of Aeronautics is committed to\nsupporting Colorado\u2019s multi-modal transportation system by assisting Colorado\u2019s\nairports through the funding of critical projects. We were disappointed to have to make drastic\nreductions to our FY2021 state and local grant program but doing so will\npreserve the long-term financial sustainability of our Aviation Fund,\u201d said\nAeronautics Division Director David Ulane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colorado legislation was created in 1991 to develop and\nmaintain the Colorado Aviation System through taxes collected on aviation fuel\nsold within the state. There are no general funds used to meet the needs within\nthe Colorado Aviation System. The Colorado Aviation System is funded solely\nthrough the taxes collected by those who use the aviation system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n