(Chico, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after helping secure $500,000 for Chico from the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), allowing for Chico Municipal Airport (CMA) to partner with an airline to create a route to Los Angeles (LAX). In 2018, LaMalfa sponsored and amendment to the FAA reauthorization removing a longstanding prohibition that kept Chico Airport from receiving commercial air grants. The work was part of a year’s long effort with Jet Chico to return commercial air service to the Chico Municipal Airport.
LaMalfa said: “Today’s grant announcement is great news for our region and will help provide the backing needed to return commercial air service to Chico. For many years major companies have looked to expand into Butte County due to our great atmosphere, quality university educated students, and relative affordability. One major hurdle has held them back – a lack of commercial air service. A change in the 2018 FAA reauthorization in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was required to make Chico eligible for the grant. It’s been years in the making and I’m happy to have helped make this a reality. With a direct route through LAX, anyone in the world have direct connectivity to our area and see how much opportunity there is for prosperity and growth.”
LaMalfa said: “Today’s grant announcement is great news for our region and will help provide the backing needed to return commercial air service to Chico. For many years major companies have looked to expand into Butte County due to our great atmosphere, quality university educated students, and relative affordability. One major hurdle has held them back – a lack of commercial air service. A change in the 2018 FAA reauthorization in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was required to make Chico eligible for the grant. It’s been years in the making and I’m happy to have helped make this a reality. With a direct route through LAX, anyone in the world have direct connectivity to our area and see how much opportunity there is for prosperity and growth.”
