ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) is getting a major boost from the federal government.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have announced today that $750,000 in federal funding is headed to the airport. It was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program.

“I am proud to have secured this federal investment for Ithaca Tompkins International Airport to help attract new direct flight services from Ithaca to our nation’s capital,” said Senator Schumer. “Access to air travel is critical to the success of the Upstate economy. It’s why I have fought relentlessly to deliver resources for this world-class facility to help our regional economy take off, and I will continue to fight to bolster air service in Tompkins County to help the Southern Tier reach new heights.”

The money will be used to increase and improve air service, including a potential new direct flight to Washington DC. Officials believe that flight would help establish Ithaca as a regional air service hub.

“The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport serves thousands of residents in Tompkins County and throughout the Southern Tier each year and it is vital that there is direct access to the nation’s capital,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help bolster economic development and ensure that the transportation needs of area residents and industries are met.”

Both Senators wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg earlier this year in support of ITH’s application, stressing the importance of federal support after airline service reductions and cancellations in 2022. ITH Airport Director Roxan Noble says she’s excited about the grant money.

“It is a testament to the hard work and collective effort that our community has invested in improving air service at ITH,” said Noble. “This funding will undoubtedly facilitate our mission to enhance connectivity and make air travel even more convenient for the people we serve.”