Will Rogers World Airport could see support for nonstop flights through state grant funds.

Airport officials are hopeful that state grants will continue supporting more nonstop flights out of Will Rogers World Airport ahead of a rebranding effort late this summer.

Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Council authorized the allocation of $500,000 in limited-tax general obligation bond funding to the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City. But the decision comes with strings attached: The funds will only be allocated if the organization receives $2.5 million in state grant funding to bring new nonstop air service to the airport.

“We have to go to the city any time that there’s a grant out there that we want to apply for and get permission,” said Stacey Hamm, public information and marketing manager for the airports department. “The reason why it’s going through the Economic Alliance is because those are the matching funds that are required for this grant that we’re applying for through the state.”

The $2.5 million grant would be awarded through the Air Service Development Grant program, established by the state Legislature two years ago as a way of helping increase the number of direct flights between Oklahoma airports and premiere destination cities. Nonstop air service, or a nonstop flight, is traveling from one airport to another without scheduled stops along the way.

Per grant funding requirements, the application from the Alliance for Economic Development would need at least a 20% local match, or $500,000. It will be drawn from general obligation limited tax bond funds, designated for economic and community development projects.

Direct international flights also on the table for Will Rogers Airport rebranding

Hamm said if partners are successful with the grant application, the air service development funds could be used to support both new and existing airlines at the site and offset certain costs.

“The airport itself has a marketing incentive program, that any time there’s a new market that an airline is flying to nonstop, they receive marketing incentive dollars,” Hamm said. “And there’s stipulations, there’s requirements, as to how much marketing dollars that they get in incentives for that.”

According to the resolution Tuesday, members of the city council and the city's economic development trust justified the matching funds because of the airport's importance to the local economy, with more nonstop air service providing new job opportunities, attracting more businesses and offering more efficient travel options.

Hamm also said applying for the grant would not be possible until September, which likely would be after the airport officially moves forward with its rebranding effort.

The airport announced its intention to pursue rebranding last year and began gathering public feedback last fall. The airport also hopes to offer direct international flights by the end of this year.

“It was time for a refresh for the airport and bring it up-to-date really with how the state rebranded and Visit OKC rebranded,” Hamm said. “And internationally, there’s a lot of places that just don’t know Will Rogers. They don’t know where Will Rogers World Airport is, which is partly why we were rebranding, as well. It’s just to be more modern with our brand and to help specify where Will Rogers Airport is located.”