BATON ROUGE — The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to incentivize the launch of nonstop air service to Chicago. 

The grant money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. 

The grant will be used to incentivize an airline to launch new service connecting Baton Rouge to Chicago, as well as enhancing regional connectivity for business, government and leisure travelers. BTR will combine the SCASDP funds with local financial support and marketing initiatives to reduce risk for a carrier that agrees to launch nonstop daily Baton Rouge to Chicago service.

"This grant is a major win for Baton Rouge and the entire Capital Region," Mike Edwards, Director of Aviation for BTR, said in a statement Friday. "Securing nonstop air service to Chicago would provide significant benefits for our business community, our universities, and travelers across the Capital Region. The support from the Department of Transportation shows confidence in our market and our vision for expanded air service opportunities."