The Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission of Houma, Louisiana has been awarded a $1.3 million grant to make the necessary infrastructure improvements needed to establish a UAS facility at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport. The project is expected to help create 150 jobs, retain 70 jobs and generate $50 million in private investment.

The investment was made by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“The Trump Administration is working diligently to empower innovators who fuel job creation in communities across the nation,” says Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

“Having UAS operations on airport facilities in the Gulf Coast will help attract new businesses to the area and generate significant economic activity for the state of Louisiana.”

In an effort to accelerate technology techniques and procedures for the entire UAS industry, UAS operations will be established at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport. Located on a 10-acre parcel in the southeast portion of the Airport's facilities, the project site will include access roads, an aircraft parking ramp, and a connector taxiway to the runway.

“This grant is exciting news for the Houma-Terrebonne Airport, and I applaud Secretary Ross for selecting South Louisiana for this important investment,” says House Republican Whip Steve Scalise.

“With the addition of an Unmanned Aviation System facility, the Houma-Terrebonne Airport will soon be at the forefront of this new transportation technology and capability.”