State Rep. Beau LaFave, of Iron Mountain, today issued the following statement in response to the state of Michigan securing $256 million in airport grants through the CARES Act – which includes $1 million for Delta County Airport in Escanaba and Ford Airport in Iron Mountain, as well as $30,000 for Menominee Regional Airport:

“The economic standstill our area of the state has been brought to impacts a broad range of sectors, and I appreciate Michigan’s congressional delegation working hard to protect U.P. infrastructure and workers. More than 90 airports across the state will be able to access this vital funding.

“The air travel industry has been particularly hard hit by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and it’s more than just the grounded planes that news channels show sitting parked on runways. Airports are job providers, and this unprecedented moment has upended these livelihoods along with many others. These hard-working people, and our critical infrastructure, need resources to stay on their feet and resume activity when this challenge is no longer facing us, but behind us.”