Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal announced new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law supporting Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, part of the most recent round of grants from the landmark law which has provided more than $30 million to Central Coast airports since 2021.

Congressman Carbajal was joined by Santa Barbara Airport Director Christopher Hastert and Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse to announce a $3.9 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, the largest grant allocated to Santa Barbara’s airport since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed in November 2021.

“This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will secure the future enjoyment of Santa Barbara’s airport for thousands of passengers, both those who use it to visit our beautiful slice of paradise and those – like me – who use it for business and to come back home,” said Congressman Carbajal. “Santa Barbara Airport is expecting to serve more than 800,000 passengers by 2041. And to account for that growth, the airport has plans for runway improvement, terminal upgrades, new parking options, more gates, and better services. This federal funding will make that happen.”

“We thank Congressman Salud Carbajal and his staff for the dedication to our region's airports, including Santa Barbara through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and other funding sources,” Santa Barbara Airport Director Christopher Hastert said. “The Congressman has been instrumental in enhancing the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of our air transportation infrastructure for everyday travel but also strengthens our readiness during natural disasters, where airports serve as critical hubs for relief efforts.”

“We are very pleased to be working cooperatively with the Federal agencies through Congressman Carbajal as we bring the Airport Master Plan to fruition,” said Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse. “The enhancement of amenities and public safety are vital to our community, serving both tourism and business interests.”

The landmark infrastructure law, which was championed by Rep. Carbajal from his role on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has also provided funding to Santa Maria Municipal Airport, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, and the airports in Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Oceano.

With the announcement of this funding, Santa Barbara Airport has received more than $10 million in FAA grants since November 2021.

To date, the office of Rep. Carbajal estimates the Central Coast has received more than $800 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support airport and highway improvements, rail and water infrastructure upgrades, expansion of high-speed internet connectivity, harbor and public space maintenance, and more.

A map of these and other investments can be found at Invest.gov.