o 

ULS.DM>Cirtm«nt o f Assisrant Secretary ' 200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Ttanip^lon Washington, DC 20590 

Office of me Secretary 

of Transportation ^ 

October 25, 2010 

The Honorable Bill Owens — -;-::;: 

U.S. House of Representatives ^,. >; >- ^ 

Washington, DC 20515 1 - ;":'^ 

Dear Congressman Owens: — 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Town of Massena and 

the St. Lawrence Valley Air Task Force for a grant under 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. A 

total of $7 million will be available for grant awards in Fiscal Year 2010. Under the 

statute, the Department 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 

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

may be used. 

On July 30, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 27. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department, 1 am sure you understand that I cannot comment on 

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

give ftill 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-2010-0124 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

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

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

/ 

U 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
WJiLI^M L. OWENS 

"* 23RD DISIRICT. NEW YORK 

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES 

AIR AND LAND PORCES 

STRATEGIC FOSCES 

COMMITTEE ON 

HOMELAND SECURITY 

E^^eFl(;l^G THREATS. CVBEBSECUHITV, AND 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGV 

EMEHGENCV COMMUNICATIONS, 

F^HEPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE 

CongreiSsf of tfje ©niteb States; 

l^ousfe of l^cprc£(etitatibe££ 

OTaflftington, IBt 20515 

September 16,2010 

PUASE RESPOND TO 

WASHINGTON Of^flCEL J 2366 RAfBUFiN HOUS E OFFICE BUILDIN G 

WASHINGTON. DC 20515-3223 

(202)225-1611 

OiSTPiCTOFfiCE 

EJ 120 WASHINGTON STREET. SUITE 200 

WATEBTOVVN. NY '3601-3370 

(315)782-3150 

I—I 14 DUHKEE STREET. SUITE 320 

PLATTSRURGH . NY 12^01-^^9 6 

'5181 563-1406 

Ms. Susan Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

Dear Assistant Secretary Kurland, 

I would like to express my support for the Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service 

Development Program Grant Application submitted by the Town of Massena and the St. Lawrence Valley 

Air Task Force (DOCKET DOT-OST-2010-0124). This grant will be used to help the Massena 

International Airport develop creative marketing strategies to promote their Essential Air Service and 

increase their ticket sales. 

The Massena International Airport serves the small towns and villages in the St. Lawrence Valley of New 

York, a remote region on the NortJiem New York/Canadian border, comprised of Northern St. Lawrence 

County, the St. Regis Mohawk Akwesasne Community, and Northern Franklin County. This airport is an 

incredible asset to the community, and plays a key role in the development and diversification of the 

area's economy, which is currently struggling. 

The Town of Massena has been working in conjunction with a strong coalition of local elected officials, 

economic developers, and business leaders to improve the region's air service. An aggressive campaign to 

promote the air service available at Massena will provide Massena with a rallying point and catalyst for 

marketing their community, allowing them to attract new and needed outside investment from the 

surrounding areas. 

I ask that you give this application your most thoughtful and serious consideration. If you need any 

additional information, please contact Madeline Donovan in my V/atertown office at (315) 782-3150. 

Sincerely, 

/^J^^- ^ 

Bill Owens 

Member of Congress 

WLO/md 

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