WASHINGTON – Today, Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) received $500,000 from the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Small Community Air Service Development program, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced. This federal funding will allow the airport to offer increased air service to cities in the western United States. In July, Kohl wrote a letter to the Department of Transportation supporting this grant.  

"Austin Straubel Airport supports a region of more than a half-million people and is a valued resource to the business community as well as our beloved Green Bay Packers.  This grant will help the airport establish affordable and convenient service to the west, assisting local companies as they expand their sales to new domestic markets, as well as welcoming more visitors to the Fox Valley," Kohl said.  

While tourism, population and businesses continue to grow in the Green Bay community, air service at GRB has significantly declined, particularly over the past five years. With funding from the Department of Transportation, the Austin Straubel International Airport aims to attract increased air service to and from the Green Bay area. Currently, GRB does not offer year-round daily commercial service to a hub west of Minneapolis. As a result of the confined area of operations, commercial opportunities offered through Green Bay are extremely limited. The goal of this grant is to acquire year-round nonstop western hub service, either from Frontier Airlines Denver service or American Eagle Dallas-Fort Worth service.