GRANT COULD BRING NEW AIRLINE TO HUMBOLDT

Even in a slowed economy, planes are still taking off at the Humboldt County Airport. But there's only one way to get out of town-- United Airlines.  Gregg Foster is the Executive Director with the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission... He's working on a half-million dollar grant that could bring another airline service back to the empty kiosk.
“We have a fully updated airport now new terminal new runway so we're really ready we've done all this work,” Foster said.
 
Ready to fly with this grant proposal to the FAA, the possible $500,000 would get the airlines here, and help them get started.
 
“The most successful businesses in Humboldt county right now, the majority of their market is outside of Humboldt county so they have to get to their customers. If we get the grant and we get the service we have to use it because they airlines won’t stay if we aren’t using it."
 
And using whichever airline lands in Humboldt County seems to be a good thing for everyone.
 
“I think that everyone in Humboldt County would benefit if we had another airline in here due to the heavy delays we have in San Francisco," one United employee said.
"Its always great to put our passengers on another airline if we have that choice."
 
Not to mention.. The price competition.
 
“The basic theory is if there’s competition for passengers then there’s downward pressure on prices," Foster said.
 
And although the economic development commission is confident that Humboldt is in the front running to receive the grant, community support is a persuasion for securing it.
 
“What we need to show especially to the FAA is that there’s a lot of community support for service."
Supporting business in humboldt
county could be putting passengers back in these seats.
 
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE GRANT:
www.flyhumboldt.org