# MINERAL CO B6ard·of

_ n 

# MMISSIONERS
JAMES ESSENPREIS, Cbairman NAN CY BLACK, Vice Chairman Jt..:RJUE TIPTON, Member CHERRIE G• : ORGE, Clerk oftbe Board 

### June 7 , 2012 Dear: Aloha Ley, Associate Directo r, Small Community Program , United States Department of Transportation GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE TOWNS OF HAWTIIORNE, WALKER LAKE, LUNING AN DMINA LIQU OR BOARU ANI) GAMING 80ARJ) COUNTY HIGHWAY COMMISSION



### On May 81h 

### 2012 the United States Department of Transportation ("DOT") through Docket DOT-OST2012-0069 invited solicitation of proposals from communities and/or consortia of communities interested in obta ining a federal grant under the Small Community Air Service Develop ment Program ("SCASDP"). The purpose of SCASDP is to provide assistance to small 

### I rural commun ities in addressing the issues of air service and airfare in their communities. The SCASDP provides for a Private Public Partnersh ip ("3 P ") framework so as to establish a Consortium for partnering in the submission. NATIONS I NVESTMENT COMPANY ("NIC") had conceptualized and commenced establishment of a Nevada Entity, HIGH SIERRA AIRLINES ("HSA"), as a Nevada regional airline almost two years ago in collaboration with the Mineral County Economic Development Authority, the town of Hawthorne and specific businesses. Unlike the previous efforts to operate a viable rural regional airline in Nevada, HSA will operate on the premise of a comprehensive business model that enables access to the un- and under-utilized assets of these rural communities versus dependency on the appropriation of a governmental air service passenger subsidy for small communities (i.e. Essential Air Service- EAS)
. HSA 's Bus iness Model is predicated on HSA being the Logistical Access Catalyst for Rural Nevada
. In this role, HSA would function as the enabler of commerce (e.g., people , goods and services) to these Communities and redefine aspects of movement for business to these locations where rubber-tire access is the predominant mode for transportation now. The Mineral County Commission is officially acknowledg ing its support and advocacy in the implementation plan of HSA along with its proposal solicitation for the SCASDP Grant. With this Letter, We are notifying the DOT of our participation in this Initiative as a Publ ic Partner 

### I Supporter for the HSA Pr oject within this 3P Framework
. Minera l County Commission believes that HSA's Business Model will provide a strategic business solution that is desperate ly needed for the transportation network of rural Nevada. The presence of a viable rurally-focused regiona l airline will stimulate growth and make reality the promise of sustainable job creation through reliable year-round scheduled air service
. In formalizing our position as a Supporter 

### I Partner of this Initiative, We are voicing our belief in the potential of HSA's operation furthering the economic development and viability of both the rural and urban Counties in Nevada. Sincerely,

### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission Page 1 of3



### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission
From: To: Shelley Hartmann <shartmannmceda@sbcglobal. net> raymond Mason <RMason@nationsinvestmentco.com> Priority: Normal Date 06-05-2012 04:28 PM

Shelley Hartmann, MCEDA Mineral County Economic Development Authority 'We are all aboutjobs' Begin forwarded message: From: "Jim Garza" < wocedc@mwoower.net > Date: June 5, 2012 7:23:11 AM PDT To: "'Shelley Hartmann"' < shartmannmceda@sbcglobal.net > Subject:RE: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission 

### Shelley,

We are gaining approval this morning from our Airport Advisory Committee to submit a Letter of Advocacy to them. We will CC you on the email today once scanned. We can't support the grant opportunity because we have Great Lakes Airlines receiving EAS federal funding and the grant does not allow us to partner with a new airlines to receive additional funding from the Fed's. However, we know this is a great opportunity for White Pine to be part of the group so we are offering a Letter of Advocacy that does not conflict with the grant exclusions.

Jim Garza- Director White Pine County Community & Economic Development 957 Campton Street Ely, Nevada 89301 (775) 293-6592 Office (775) 289-8860 Fax


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### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission

w p cedc@mw power.net



### PREPARED FOR YOUR BUSINESS

From: Shelley Hartmann [mailto:shartmannmceda@sbcglobal.net] 

### Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 6:56AM 

### To: Eric Grimes; Pam Borda; Heidi Lusby; Bill E Sims; Dennis 

### & Joni Eastley; Dennis Bradley; Jim Garza 

### Cc: Dana Fruend; Angela Adair; Denise Argo; Wade and Kay Barton; AI Parker; A Rossman; Bob Conner; Bob Shriver; Jeff Brigger; Connie Simkins; Jim Utterback; Doug Carriger; Eric D; Dean Haymore; Ed higbee higbee; Mark Nixon; C Fraker; Michael Guss; Ramona Morrison; Robert Chambers; Ron Radhil; GoingR-contact; 'GeneEtcheverry; varlin higbee; Harriet Ealey; Jerrie Tipton; Kathy Agee-Dow; Kevin Hayes 

### Subject: Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program -June 11th Submission

Our rural airline is asking for support for their grant application to bring a small air carrier to rural Nevada. I believe this will help every rural county enhance tourism, take product to urban markets and passengers to all markets. I believe this will be a key to attracting business to rural Nevada.

We appreciate any assistance you can provide.

Warmest regards Shelley Shelley Hartmann, MCEDA

Mineral County Economic Development Authority

'We are all aboutjobs' Begin forwarded message: From: Raymond Mason< RMason@nationsinvestmentco.com > Date: June 5, 2012 5:30:00 AM PDT To: wendyrudder.laigroup@gmail.com , tmoyers@ci.elko.nv.us , 11 bthompson@co.douglas.nv.us 11 < bthompson@co.douglas.nv.us >, ALPHAl@FRONTIERNET.NET , Pam< pam@eceda.com >, Mike Coster<


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### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission

costerwoc@gmail.com > Cc: 11 shelley@mineralcountvnevada.com 11 < shelley@mineralcountvnevada.com >, Neil Atkinson< NAtkinson@nationsinvestmentco.com >, Mike Trujilo < mcpw@gbis.com > Subject:SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission Reply-To: Raymond Mason< RMason@nationsinvestmentco.com > All, As each ofyour airports are included in the PHASE 1 roll-out for HIGH SIERRA AIRLINES ( 11 HSA 11 ), Nations Investment Co had hoped that you would have responded to our initial suggestion to join our conference call on the Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant solicitation. Understanding the timing was less than convenient, we are hoping that you have since had time to review the information distributed and the HSA Initiative welcomed. It is our desire that all ofyou consider being Public Partners in the Initiative explicitly, but at least minimally to acknowledge your support for the Initiative. I will be reaching out to each ofyou over the next couple of days to this end. Please take a look at the attached Draft Letter of Support or Partnership. Let us know your interests in participating and if we can discuss the implications to your Airport, Community and County as currently scoped. Do not hesitate to call me. Thank you for your consideration. Best Regards, Raymond Mason, Chief Operating Officer & VP NATIONS INVESTMENT CO www .nationsinvestmentco.com (203) 249-1329 phone (203) 621-3199 fax

No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG- www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2177 I Virus Database: 2425/5045- Release Date: 06/04/12



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### Nevada 's Premier Wireless Internet-Network Provider

June 5. 2012 Dear: A loha Ley , Associa te Director, Sma ll Community Program Un ited States Department of Transportation On May 8 1h 2012 the United States Department of Transportation (" DOT" ) through Docket DOT-OST2012-0069 invited so l icitation of proposals from commu niti es and/or consortia of commun ities interested i n obtaining a federal gra nt u nd e r the Small Community Air Service Deve lopme nt Program (" SCASDP " ). The purpose of SCASDP is to provide assistance to sm all 

### I rura l communities in addressing the issues of air service and airfare in their communities

. The SCASD P provides for a Private Publ ic Partnership (" 3P ") framewo rk so as to establis h a Consortium for partnering i n the submission

. NATIONS INVESTMENT COMPANY ('' N IC " ) had co nceptual ized and commenced establ ishm ent of a Nevada Entity , HIGH SIERRA AIRLINE S ("HSA "), as a Nevada regi onal airline a lmost two years ago i n collaborat ion with th e M i ne ra l County Econom ic Development Auth ority , the town of Hawthorne and s pec ific businesses

. Unlike the previous efforts to operate a viable rural regional airline in Nevada , HSA will operate on the premise of a comprehensive business model that enables access to the un- and under-utilized assets of these ru ral communities versus depen dency o n the appropriation of a governmental air service passenger subsidy fo r sma ll communities (i.e. Essentia l Air Service
- EAS ). HSA' s Business Mode l is predicated on HSA be ing th e Log istical Access Cata lyst fo r Rural Nevada
. In this role. HSA would function as the enabler of commerce (e.g ., people , goods and services ) to these Commun ities and redefine aspects of movement for business to these locations where rubber-tire access is the predominant mode for transportation now. Atom splas h LLC is o ffi cially acknowledging its suppo rt and advocacy in the impleme ntation plan of HSA along with its proposal solicitation for the SCASDP Grant. With this Letter, We are notifying the DOT of our participation in th is Initiative as a Supporter for the HSA Pro j ect within this 3P Framework

. Atomsplash LLC believes that HSA's Business Model will provide a strategic business solution t hat is desperately need ed for the transportation network of rural Nevada
. The presence of a viab le r urallyfocused reg io na l airli ne will stimu late g rowth and make rea lity the prom ise of susta inable j ob cre atio n through reliab le year-round scheduled air service
. In formalizing our position as a Supporter 

### I Partner of th i s Initi ative , We are voic ing our belief in the potentia l of HSA's operation furthering the economic development and viab il ity of both the ru ra l and urban Counties i n Nevada
.

Ni cho las White Founder and Prin c1 pal

3785 Ba k er Lane
. Suite 101 Reno. NV 89509 775-636-7961 877-268-0157 www.atomsplash

.com

# WNDD
5 June 2012 Mr. 

### Aloha Ley Associate Director 

## Western Nevada Development District

Small Community Program United States Department ofTransportation Washington, DC RE: Letter ofSupport Grant Application

- Small Community Air Service Development Program Dear Sir: Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) is providing this letter of support for the grant application under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). WNDD is an approved Economic Development District under the auspices of the U.S
. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The WNDD region is comprised ofthe following Nevada counties: Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing and Storey. The Mineral County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) has been collaborating with Nations Investment Company (NIC) 

### to conceptualize and commence establishment of a Nevada Entity, High Sierra Airlines (HSA) to provide air service not only to Mjneral County, Nevada, but to other rural areas ofthe State. Unlike the previous efforts to operate a viable rural regional airline in Nevada, HSA will operate on the premise of a comprehensive business model that enables access to the un-utilized and under-utilized assets of these rural communities versus dependency on the appropriation of a governmental air service passenger subsidy for small communities (i.e. Essential Air Service

- EAS). HSA's Business Model is predicated on HSA being the Logistical Access Catalyst for Rural Nevada. In 

### this role, HSA would function as the enabler ofcommerce (e.g., people, goods and services) to these Communities and redefine aspects ofmovement for business to these locations where rubber-tire access is the predominant mode for transportation now. WNDD knows transportation in its many forms is a vital component of economic development and community development within the region. Improved infrastructure, including transportation, is a part of the WNDD Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The presence of a viable, rural-focused regional airline will stimulate growth and make reality the promise of sustainable job creation through reliable year-round scheduled air service. Therefore, WNDD 

### is supportive of this HSA implementation plan and its SCASDP grant application
. This project would be beneficial to the economic development ofthe WNDD region. Sincerely,

# It~~ Executive Director

704 W. Nye Lane • Suite 20 l • Carson City, Nevada 89703 (775) 883-7333 • Fax (775) 883-0722

# ArizonaNlmda 

# Tower


# Corporation~ 6220 Mcleod Drive Suite 1 00 las V e ga s , Nevada 8 9 120-4441 702-45 4-268 2 I 702

-9 5 3

-7 842 Fax 

### June 5, 2012 Dear: Aloha Ley, Associate Director, Small Community Program United States Department of Tran sportation On May gth 

### 2012 th e United States Department of Transportation (" DOT" ) through Docke t DOT-OST-2012-0069 invited solicitation of proposals f rom communiti es and/or consortia of communities interested in obtaining a federa l grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (" SCASDP"). The purpose of SCASDP is to provide assistance to small 

## I rural communities in addressing the issues of air service and airfare in their communities

. The SCASDP provides for a Private Public Partnership ("3P" ) fram ework so as to establish a Consortium for partnering in the submission. NATIONS INVESTMENT COMPANY (" N IC " ) had conceptualized and commen ced establishment of a Nevada Entity, HIGH SIERRA AIRLINES ("HSA") , as a Nevada regional airline almost two years ago in collaboration with the Minera l County Economic Development Authority, the town of Hawthorne and specific businesses

. Unlike the previous efforts to operate a viable rural regional airline in Nevada, HSA will operate on the premise of a comprehensive business model that enab les access to the un - and under-utilized assets of these rural communities ve rsus depende ncy o n the appropriation of a governmental air service pa sse nger subsidy for small communities (i.e
. Essent ial Air Service
- EAS)
. HSA' s Business Model is predicated on HSA being the Logistical Access Catalyst for Rural Nevada
. In this role , HSA would fu n ct ion as th e enabl e r of com merce (e.g., people, goods and s

ervices) to these Communities and redefin e aspects of movement fo r bu siness to the se locations where rubber-tire access is the predominant mode for tran sportation now. Arizona Nevada Tower Corporation is officially acknowledging its support and advocacy in th e implementation plan of HSA along with its proposal solic itation for the SCASDP Grant. With this Letter, we are not ifying the DOT of our participation in t h is initiative as a Pu blic Pa r tner 

## I Supporter for the HSA Project within this 3P Framework

. Arizona Nevada Tower Corporati o n believes that HSA' s Business Model will provide a strat egic business solution that is desperat ely needed for the transportation network of rural Nevada. Th e presen ce of a viable rurally-fo cused regional airline will stimulate growth and make reality the prom ise of sustain abl e job creation through re liable year- round scheduled air service. In formalizing our posit ion as a Suppo rt er 

## I Partn er of this initiative , we are voicing our belief in the potential of HSA's ope ration fu rth e ring th e economi c development and viability of both th e rural and urban counti es in Nevada.

### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission



### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission
From: Shelley Hartmann <shartmannmceda@sbcglobal. net> raymond Mason <RMason@nationsinvestmentco.com> To: Priority: Normal Date 06-05-2012 05:40 PM

Shelley Hartmann, MCEDA Mineral County Economic Development Authority 'We are all aboutjobs' Begin forwarded message: From: Gene Etcheverry < getcheverrv@landercountvnv.org > Date: June 5, 2012 8:15:55 AM PDT To: Shelley Hartmann < shartmannmceda@sbcglobal.net > Subject:Re: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission Good Morning, Shelley, I will take the letter of support for High Sierra Airlines to the Commission on Thursday, June 14, 2012. The Battle Mountain Airport (BAM) is well-developed and well-suited to commercial airline service. Only a small amount of upgrading would be required for the airport to serve commercial air service. Please keep me in the loop on this initiative, as this is the first communication I have received on the issue. There is an absolute need for such service in Battle Mountain, as the 'regional' airport in Elko is not truly centrally located to serve the mining operations that are (generally) located 50- 80 miles to the west. Best regards colleague! Gene P. Etcheverry Executive Director Lander County On Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 6:56AM, Shelley Hartmann< shartmannmceda@sbcglobal.net >wrote:

Our rural airline is asking for support for their grant application to bring a small air carrier to rural Nevada. believe this will help every rural county enhance tourism, take product to urban markets and passengers to all markets. I believe this will be a key to attracting business to rural Nevada. We appreciate any assistance you can provide. Warmest regards Shelley Shelley Hartmann, MCEDA Mineral County Economic Development Authority 'We are all aboutjobs' Begin forwarded message: From: Raymond Mason< RMason@nationsinvestmentco.com > Date: June 5, 2012 5:30:00 AM PDT To: wendyrudder.laigroup@gmail.com , tmoyers@ci.elko.nv.us , "


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### Fwd: SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission

bthompson@co.douglas.nv.us 11 < bthompson@co.douglas.nv.us >, ALPHAl@FRONTIERNET.NET , Pam< pam@eceda.com >, Mike Coster< costerwpc@gmail.com > Cc: 11 shelley@mineralcountvnevada.com 11 < shelley@mineralcountvnevada.com >, Neil Atkinson< NAtkinson@nationsinvestmentco.com >, Mike Trujilo < mcpw@gbis.com > Subject:SMALL COMMUNITY AIRPORT DEV Program- June 11th Submission Reply-To: Raymond Mason< RMason@nationsinvestmentco.com > All, As each ofyour airports are included in the PHASE 1 roll-out for HIGH SIERRA AIRLINES ( 11 HSA 11 ), Nations Investment Co had hoped that you would have responded to our initial suggestion to join our conference call on the Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant solicitation. Understanding the timing was less than convenient, we are hoping that you have since had time to review the information distributed and the HSA Initiative welcomed. It is our desire that all ofyou consider being Public Partners in the Initiative explicitly, but at least minimally to acknowledge your support for the Initiative. I will be reaching out to each ofyou over the next couple of days to this end. Please take a look at the attached Draft Letter of Support or Partnership. Let us know your interests in participating and if we can discuss the implications to your Airport, Community and County as currently scoped. Do not hesitate to call me. Thank you for your consideration. Best Regards, Raymond Mason, Chief Operating Officer & VP NATIONS INVESTMENT CO www . nationsinvestmentco.com (203) 249-1329 phone ( 2 0 3 ) 621-319 9 fax



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