U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild, D-7th, announced Oct. 29 a federal grant of $5,987,974 will be heading to Lehigh Valley International Airport thanks to the American Rescue Plan, which Wild fought for and helped pass in Congress.

“The Lehigh Valley International Airport is an economic cornerstone of our community, supporting countless jobs and connecting us to the country and the world,” Wild said. “I’m enormously proud to have fought for the American Rescue Plan and to have secured this funding, which will provide additional economic relief funds for the airport authority to ensure they can continue serving the greater Lehigh Valley for years to come.”

“Support from federal leaders in Washington, D.C., including Congresswoman Wild, has been critical for the national aviation system and especially our Lehigh Valley region,” said Thomas R. Stoudt, executive director of Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority. “Securing these additional funds helped to ensure the continuity of airport services at Lehigh Valley International during the ongoing pandemic as the reduction in travel produced a significant revenue shortfall at ABE, the impact of which will continue into at least 2022.”

This grant provides economic relief funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

The airport has received several rounds of funding from the American Rescue Plan since the law passed this spring and previous COVID-19 relief packages, which Wild announced in April and July. Wild also visited the airport in July.