Aviation - Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) Loans
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Aviation measures related to Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) Loans
CARB Loans
WSDOT Aviation has been charged with administering the CARB Loan Program pursuant to RCW 47.68. The program provides low interest loans to public-use airports for revenue-producing capital projects generally not eligible for FAA funding to assist airports to become more self-sustainable and less reliant on public funds.
The program provides loans up to $750,000 at 2% interest to airports with less than 75,000 annual commercial enplanements, as reported to the FAA. Loans can have a maximum 20-year loan period, and recipients can opt for up to a 3-year loan repayment grace period.
Source: WSDOT Aviation Division.
Multi-year trends
Between 2019 and 2022, WSDOT awarded $9.2 million in CARB funds for 17 projects at public-use airports supporting Washington's system of airports. In May 2021, the Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) loan program was made permanent with the passage of Senate Bill 5031 and funded with an additional $5 million for the 2021-2023 biennium.
Annual highlights
The revolving loan program provides low-interest loans to airports for revenue-producing projects that will help them become more self-sufficient and less reliant on state and federal funding. To date, the program has received 38 applications totaling $23,038,096. The CARB has awarded loans for 17 projects totaling $9,184,402.
Eight of the 17 (47%) projects have been completed, with four of them starting on loan repayments. A $750,000 CARB loan partially funded the Port of Bremerton's new $4.2 million multi-purpose facility at the Bremerton National Airport, which includes a multi-plane hangar, aeronautical office space, a pilot flight-planning room, multiple restrooms, and a 147-seat restaurant.
Another round of CARB loans are planned for July 2023, subject to additional funding being secured in the 2023-2025 capital budget.
CARB Loan program was codified with SB5031 in May 2021 and appropriated another $5 million beginning on July 1, 2021. CARB awarded $2.33 million in 2021 to eligible, public-use airports. Projects included:
- City of Auburn, Auburn Municipal Airport — T-Hangar Door Replacement $750,000
- City of Deer Park, Deer Park Municipal Airport — Airport Sewer Main $730,000
- Kittitas County, Bowers Field — West Apron Hangar Taxilane $100,000
- Port of Benton, Richland Airport — Hangar Acquisition $750,000
CARB awarded $3.2 million in 2020 to eligible, public-use airports. Projects included:
- Port of Bremerton, Bremerton National Airport — Multi-purpose Facility $750,000
- Port of Port Angeles, William R. Fairchild Airport — Utility Ext. & Hangar Development $425,000 (Phase II)
- Pierce County, Thun Field — Hangar Doors Replacement Project $750,000
- Sequim Valley Airport, Inc., Sequim Valley Airport — Access Road and Fueling Area Repaving Project $70,000
- City of Kelso, Southwest Regional Airport — Fuel Farm Improvements $500,000
- City of Chewelah, Chewelah Municipal Airport — Aviation Fuel Tank Facility $425,000
- City of Moses Lake, Moses Lake Municipal Airport — New Fuel System $175,000
- Kittitas County, Bowers Field — Hangar Utility Extension $105,000
CARB Loan program was established in July 2019 under EHB1102 and initially funded with $5 million. WSDOT convened an 8-person board to develop criteria/process for evaluating and selecting loan applications. CARB awarded $1.54 million in 2019 to eligible, public-use airports. Projects included:
- Port of Port Angeles, William R. Fairchild Airport — Utility Ext. & Hangar Development $325,000 (Phase I)
- City of Chehalis, Chehalis-Centralia Municipal Airport — Above Ground Fueling Facility $750,000
- Port of Othello, Othello Municipal Airport — 10-unit Hangar Project $450,000
- Sequim Valley Airport, Inc., Sequim Valley Airport — UST Removal Project $15,000