Van Hollen, Cardin, Harris Announce $1 Million Grant to Salisbury Airport

Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (all Maryland) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a sizable $1,023,818 federal grant to the Salisbury – Ocean City – Wicomico Regional Airport. Funding for this grant came from the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which passed in December of 2020.  According to DOT, these dollars will be used for economic relief for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

The Members issued the following statement:

“The Salisbury Airport is a critical infrastructure hub for the Delmarva Peninsula and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  We’re glad these additional funds have been allocated to offset some of the revenue lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We remain committed to ensuring businesses and our local communities are able to stay afloat and get back on their feet after the severe hardship they have endured the past year." 

The Salisbury Airport is a growing regional destination for quick access to the Ocean City beaches and greater Delmarva. Over the last 15 years, they have reconstructed and expanded their runway, with plans for further extension to accommodate larger commercial aircraft in the near future. American Airlines is the primary commercial carrier of SBY.