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The Airport System - An Economic Benefit
Creating and Protecting Jobs
Airport projects create an estimated 25 jobs per airport improvement project. A survey conducted in 1989 for the MAC found that companies that rely on General Aviation airports as a tool in doing business would have to either relocate or go out of business if they lost access to their GA airport. In either of those scenarios, the loss in sales resulting from these businesses relocating out of state or going out of business was estimated at nearly $200 Million per year.
The Massachusetts Legislature has authorized the MAC to fund in excess of 80% of an airport's total project cost provided the project contributes to economic development of the Commonwealth or is necessary for compliance with federal, state or local environmental or safety rules, regulations, orders or advisories.
Generating Economic Benefits
MAC works in partnership with federal, state and local government to manage financial resources necessary to maintain Massachusetts' airports. Twenty-nine airports are eligible to receive Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A separate State program, the Airport Safety and Maintenance Program (ASMP) serves to leverage AIP funds and to fund safety and maintenance projects that are not eligible for AIP assistance.
Since 1991 nearly $90 Million in airport improvement projects have been completed at Massachusetts airports. The FAA contribution was nearly $60 Million, representing an overall impact to the Massachusetts economy of over $750 Million. This means that the Commonwealth and its airports invested nearly $30 Million to generate 3 times as much direct economic benefit ($90 Million) and over 25 times ($750 Million) in indirect economic benefits for Massachusetts. Clearly, the Massachusetts Airport System represents a powerful "bang for the buck" for the Massachusetts economy, benefiting all the Commonwealth's citizens.
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