0% r i :^-R'^RTMENTO^ 

*^^0«partmentO f ^-' ' .. -r,':! Lr'cRAilUN o 1200 New jersey Avenue, SE 

Transportatio n Washington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretory - i rrn ~q O o- ^ 1 

of Transportation ''"' -^ ^ J 

SEP 2 1 2011 The Honorable George D. Maziarz 

New York Senator 

Albany, NY 12247 

Dear Mr. Maziarz: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Niagara County 

Department of Economic Development for a grant imder the Small Community Air 

Service Development Program (Small Community Program). 

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

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

Under the statute, the Department may use the fimds 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 

deficiencies, the statute provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 1, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 2. 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 

fiill consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

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

DOT-OST-2011-0119 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

firee to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Commimity Program 
VICE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE 

CHAIRMAN 

ENERGY S TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

COMMITTEE MEMBER 

CRIME VICTIMS. CRIME 6 CORRECTION 

EDUCATION 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 

HIGHER EDUCATIONRULES 

TRANSPORTATION 

THE SENATE 

STATE OF NEW YORK 

GEORGE D. MAZIARZ 

Senator, 62nd District 

Doc^ 

ALBANY OFFICE; 

ROOM 708 

LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING 

ALBANY, NY 12247 

(518:455-2024 

FAX: 15181 426-5987 

DISTRICT OFFICE; 

175 WALNUT STREET 

SUITE 6 

LOCPORtNY 14094 

(716)434-0680 

FAX: 17161434-3297 

E-MAIL ADDRESS; 

maziarz@nysenate.gov 

7 

July 28, 2011 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

8*Floor,RoomW86-310 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

To Whom it May Concern, 

I am writing in strong support of the Niagara County Center for Economic Development 

(NCCED) application to the US Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (SCASDP). The NCCED proposes to request financial assistance to help 

enhance air service operations and marketing of the Niagara Falls International Airport (NFIA). 

The NFIA is an attractive alternative to currently congested major North American 

international airports. With its 10,825 ft. main* runway, 24-hour operation (no curfews), 24-hour 

operations services, excellent access to inspection agencies,, andprice competitive ^Handing fees, 

, the NFIA is. ideally^suited arid itrate'gfcally-fecatdd'to acc» various jtypes of aviation 

.operations suited for b'usinei^s aridletsitfeu^e'.ThWcio^ the 

Canada/USA border,' its location jtist of^a major Tiighwaiy, and its central location to the Canada 

and USA population base offer great economic advantages. 

Significant developments and investmerits'haVe been made at the airport. This has 

stimulated private investment throughout the coinmuriity and has secured additional 

transportation opportunities. Grant fimding fi-om the SCASDP is needed to ensure that these new 

developments continue to grow. 

The local stakeholder community cannot completely fund their marketing airport 

initiatives and provide incentives to entice additional airline carriers. Federal assistance is needed 

to complete this important task. A SCASDP award will help expand the airport's existence, bring 

greater involvement to the community while enhancing economic competiveness. 

- I am confident ihat the NCCfiD^rant^e^uesfwflvgrea^ quality of life 

throughout WestenpNewYork aiidsaid al 4 inodel iriitiaitiye t^^^ 9^^!^. ^tw® rairlineS;tor 

invest, JteoughoutoitftidamiUftity^at^^ stjdctl^ipMaj! jaii4 to.urist^^t^ ,., o- •. 

. ;••• •;'!:•--.•••. "i'-^ - '•••• f'^''-' '•'• ••-•'i-'' - •- '^{more j , .: '.. .• ., ., T . . ^ '.-.••-•;.: •-

Q 
&CtC^ 

I ask that this grant application be give very carefiil consideration. Thank you for your 

time and attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, 

George Maziarz 

Senator, 62°^ District