SORA release – On June 6th, 2019 the Oregon State Aviation Board awarded the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport a $500,000 Rural Oregon Aviation Relief (ROAR) grant, to assist in securing air service to Portland. ROAR grants are provided for projects that will assist commercial air service to rural Oregon. The Airport is seeking to attract air service to Portland by providing financial and in kind service incentives. This $500,000 will bring us closer to that goal. Next month the Airport will be submitting a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Grant program, for $750,000. Discussions with the airlines for Portland service is ongoing. The Airport hopes to initiate service in the spring of 2020. Additionally the airport has received financial and local incentives from Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, the Mill Casino, Sause Bros., the City of Coos Bay, the Port of Coos Bay, and the City of North Bend. North Bend City Administrator Terence O’Connor chimed in on the news, “Outstanding ! …forgive me but I feel compelled to say…. things are looking “up” for the future of the airport and our region! Great work.”
