Glacier Airline Enhancement and Retention Outreach, a group of local businesses and community organizations focused on expanding air service to the Flathead Valley, has received a $100,000 grant from the Flathead County Economic Development Authority.

The grant requires a $150,000 match to achieve the group’s final goal of raising $250,000.

The idea is to bring additional direct flights to the valley through negotiated revenue guarantee contracts, a mechanism used  previously at Glacier Park International Airport and other airports in Montana.

The Glacier AERO project will be a multiyear project to expand air routes to Glacier Park International Airport, according to Chairman Paul Johannsen.

 In the first several weeks of fundraising, the group raised $80,000 for the airline retention fund. Major donations have been received from Whitefish Mountain Resort, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Kalispell Convention and Visitor Bureau, Big Mountain Commercial Association, Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau, Glacier Bank, First Interstate Bank, Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and Kandahar Lodge.

“We are excited about the success of the fundraising so far and confident that the community will rally around this idea that has been in the works for more than a decade,” Johannsen said. “Every donation both large and small from the business and tourism sectors counts toward our goal.”

 AERO’s timeline is to raise $150,000 by May 1.

For more information, contact Johannsen at 212-4678 or paul.johannsen@gmail.com.