810-090916-070 

O 

ULS.D«Dartin«ntof Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

ThinSortatlon Washington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary r^rr 9 0 9nnQ 

of Transportation UtL /i » ^"" ^ 

The Honorable Stephanie Herseth Sandlin 

U.S. Hou.se of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congresswoman Sandlin: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the City of Sioux City for 

a grant under the Small Conimunity Air Service Development Program (Small 

Community Program). I am responding on behalf of Secretary LaHood. 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. 

Congress appropriated $8 million for grant awards under this program in 

Fiscal Year 2009. Under tlie statute, the U.S. Department of Transportation may use the 

funds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each year, although no more than four may 

be to communities in the same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in 

developing solutions to their air service problems, the statute provides significant 

flexibility in how the financial assistance may be used. 

On July 10. the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 28. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department. I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on 

the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you. however, that the Department will 

give full consideration to all the proposals that have been filed. 

'As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

OST-2009-0149 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest 

in this program. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
09/16/200 9 WED 9:4 5 FAX SI 0-090916-070 

STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN 

A i t/.iKif, SOUTH OAfOTjk 

WASHINGTON, DC 

331 CAMNOH HOUSE OFFICE BUILOINC 

WASKiNOTon, DC 20515 

PHC«.'E (202) 22&-2801 

FAX 1202)225-5823 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE 

SutcoMMirrEC ON CONSERVATION. CREDIT. 

ENSBBV, AMP RssfAncH 

SuscoMuiiTeE ON GENERAL FARM Cor,vMoiTiES 

AND RISK MANAGEMENT 

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECOMOMIC OrporauxiTY, Chuin 

http://harsathsandlln.houso.gav/ ^ttn^xm^ tti i\}t WxiUh states 

COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 

SuGcoi<iMiTT6E ON NATIONAL PABKS, 

FORESTS, AND PUDIIC LANDS 

SELECT COMMITTEE ON ENERGY 

INDEPENDENCE AND GLOBAL WARMING 

September 3,2009 

Tlic Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Pending application. Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Docket #OST-2009-0149 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

I am writing to express my support for tlie above-referenced grant application submitted by the City of 

Sioux City, Iowa. This opportunity is offered through the U.S Department of Transportation's Small 

Community Air Service Development Program. 

If selected for funding, Sioux City proposes to generously supplement $600,000 of program funds with 

S683,500 in local matching funds to implement strategies for accessing marlcets to the east, including 

Chicago. Presently, Sioux City air travelers enjoy reliable service to the Delta Air Lines/Northwest Air 

Lines hub in Minneapolis, but lack direct air service to Chicago, the destination of choice for Sioux City 

travelers. 

The Sioux City region is suffering the consequences of being an undeisci-ved market. Air service is 

critical to an active business conununity, and access to the Chicago market will create an atmosphere in 

wliich regional businesses and educational entities can thrive, as well as enhancing the quality of life for 

the traveling public in the tri-statc region, including Soutli Dakota. 

The appetite for accessing new air travel markets is exemplified by the impressive local comniitnienl to 

funding this effort. It is my hope that this initiative is rewarded with support from the Department of 

Transportation, and I thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this worthy appl ication. 

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin 

Member of Congress 

SHS/mjc 

SIOUX FALLS. SD 

328 E. eTii ST.. Su n 108 

SIOUX FAUI , SD E7103 

PHONE (60SI 367-8371 

FAX 1605) 387-8373 

RAPID CITV. SD 

343 QUINCY ST., SUITE 102 

RAPI> CiTV. SD 57702 

PHOSE 1605) 394-5280 

FAX 1605) 39<l.52e2 

ABERDEEN. SD 

121 FounTH AVENUE SW. SUITS 1 

AwnofCN, SD 57401 

PHOME (605) 625-3440 

FAX 1605) 626-3441 

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