The Chamber in partnership with the Grand Junction Economic Partnership has formed a joint task force to focus on commercial air service for business travelers. The first major undertaking for the group was to assemble a robust package of information and local participation in order to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant. The purpose of the grant is to attract daily non-stop service to a West Coast hub primarily for business travelers. Funds would be used to negotiate with a carrier and audit the monthly margins, market the route and offer a revenue guarantee to the successful airline.
With just over 30 days to assemble the package, personnel from the Grand Junction Regional Airport, Grand Junction Economic Partners, Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Chamber reached out to a host of organizations, public and private to secure commitments of cash and in kind services.
The grant application was submitted on July 22nd and requested $750,000 in federal funds to be matched by $129,500 in cash and $269,400 in kind. We will know sometime this fall if the request for funding was successful. The Chamber committed $5,000 in cash and $8,000 of in kind marketing and administration assistance. In addition we wish to thank the following for contributing to the 35% local match and demonstration of extraordinary community collaboration:
Cash Contributions:
Mesa County
Colorado Mesa University
City of Grand Junction
Gateway Canyons Resort
Grand Junction Regional Airport
Grand Junction Visitors and Convention Bureau
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
Town of Palisade
City of Fruita
Non Cash Contributions:
Grand Junction Regional Airport
West Star Aviation
Grand Junction Visitors and Convention Bureau
The Daily Sentinel
Grand Junction Business Times
Nexstar Broadcasting
TownSquare Media
MBC Grand
X106.9 KMZK Radio
Grand Valley Magazine
Relocating to the Grand Valley Magazine
Letters of Support in addition to those already named above:
Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Cory Gardner
Congressman Scott Tipton
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado
Western Colorado Business Alliance
West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association
Click here to download the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce August 2015 Newsletter.