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2010 OCI -U P 2: 5U 

August 23, 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U. S. Department of Transportation 

400 7th Street, SW Room 10200 

Washington, DC 20590 

Secretary LaHood: 

On behalf on the Central Florida Development Council of Polk County, Florida we are very pleased to offer our support for 

Lakeland Under Regional Airport's grant application for the Department of Transportation's Small Community 

Air Service Development Program. As the Polk County's lead agency for both economic development and tourism & 

sports marketing, we support the Airport's goal of attracting low fare commercial service to the region. We believe 

such service to Lakeland Linder will serve as a catalyst to further spur economic growth, attract new visitors and 

improve the quality of life options for the citizens in our community. Experience In similar communities across the country 

has shown the presence of a low fare carrier plays a pivotal role in the growth of the host city and county. 

Both the City of Lakeland and the Florida Department of Transportation ("FOOT") have recognized the importance of the 

airport to the region. The City Is investing more than $1.4M on infrastructure projects to prepare for commercial service. 

Additionally, the City provides police and fire services at no cost to the airport, saving more than $450,000 annually from the 

rate base which carriers would otherwise have to pay. FOOT in August 2010 granted the airport $2 million to fund the 

improvements necessary to accommodate scheduled flight operations; thesis include ticketing areas, baggage claim, 

baggage make-up areas, sterile areas, the security checkpoint, access controls, additional facility square footage, 

and offices for T.S.A. 

Lakeland Linder Regional Airport currently operates under a Part 139 Certificate and is completing its work with T.S.A. and 

will be in a position to launch its commercial program in the beginning of 2011. Low fare service to Lakeland would not 

only benefit our region, but also the small communities where the flights will operate, providing those cities with the 

economic benefit of stimulated air travel and lower airfares. The funds from the grant will be used exclusively at 

non-primary airports, where low fare carriers can capitalize on the lower infrastructure costs to permit lower fares for 

passengers. 

Lakeland is Ideally situated between the metro Orlando and Tampa bay regions with convenient access to the Polk Parkway, 

1-4 and the future high speed rail system connecting Tampa and Orlando in 2015. This transportation connectivity will 

enable easy access to and from the Airport with ground transportation alternatives available to move passengers within 

Polk County, or neighboring Hillsborough and Orange County. Lakeland is less than an hour from Tampa and the major 

attractions in Orlando such as Disney World. 

Marketing money from the grant will not only be used to raise awareness about easy access from Lakeland to Orlando and 

Tampa; but also to establish Polk County as a convenient and affordable place to stay for tourists wanting to take advantage 

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of both destinations. This will drive significant hotel, rental car, restaurant, and attraction revenue for the region. 

Lastly, Central Florida's Polk County has been one of the hardest hit areas during this recession and continues to 

struggle with high unemployment rates and declining property values. The economic benefit that the new Air Service 

would generate would not only benefit this County and Region, but also to the State through added 

tourist and business travel. 

The Central Florida Development Council of Polk County fully endorses and requests your approval of Lakeland Linder 

Regional Airport's grant application for the Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development 

Program. 

Sincerely, 

Rodney L. Carson 

Director of Economic Development 

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