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Last week, U.S. Rep. Dr. Ralph Abraham, announced the disbursement of nearly $5 million for 5th Congressional District airports provided under the CARES Act as part of the COVID-19 response. Among those airports was the Bogalusa airport, which is receiving $30,000.

“The air travel industry has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak and ensuing policy of social distancing with flights down some 96 percent according to the TSA,” Abraham said. “Without financial support to help cover the shortfall, many airports would be forced to cease operations completely which would greatly increase the time required to begin serving the public once again.

“These grants will help to maintain the health of this industry so that service can be quickly restarted once the crisis has subsided and we can get back to business as usual.”

Other airports that will receive funding through the Airport Improvement Program include Alexandria, $2,26 million; Bastrop, $30,000; Jena, $20,000; Jonesboro, $20,000; Jonesville, $20,000; Lake Providence, $1,000; Marksville, $30,000; Monroe $2 million; Oak Grove, $30,000; Opelousas, $30,000; Pineville, $30,000; Rayville, $30,000; Ruston, $69,000; Tallulah, $30,000; Vidalia, $30,000; Winnfield, $1,000; and Winnsboro, $30,000.