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GOWB. FIELDS, Mayor 

August 27, 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U. S. Department of Transportation 

400 7th Street, SW Room 10200 

Washington, DC 20590 

Secretary LaHood; 

As Mayor of the City of Lakeland, I highly endorse Lakeland Linder Regional Airport's 

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

Development Program. The City of Lakeland shares the Airport's goal of attracting low fare 

commercial service to the region to foster economic growth and improve quality of life 

options for the citizens in our community. The presence of a low fare carrier would play a 

pivotal role in our future growth. 

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 over $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 over $450,000 annually from the rate 

base, which carriers would otherwise have to pay. FDOT in August 2010 granted the airport 

$2.0M to fiind the improvements necessary to accommodate scheduled flight operations; 

these include ticketing areas, baggage claim, baggage make-up areas, sterile areas, the 

security checkpoint, access controls, CCTV, additional facility square footage, and offices 

for T.S.A. 

Lakeland Linder Regional Airport currently operates under a Part 139 Certificate and upon 

completion of its work with T.S.A., 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 to 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 situated between Oriando and Tampa and its location by Polk Parkway, 1-4 and 

proximity to the future high speed rail system will enable easy access to and from the 

Airport with ground transportation alternatives available to move them to their final 

destination within Polk County, or its neighboring Hillsborough and Orange County. 

Lakeland is less than an hour from either Tampa or from the major attractions in Orlando 

228 S. Massachusetts Avenue • Lakeland, Florida 33801-5012 

Phone 863/834-6000 • www.lakelandgov.net 
such as Disney Worid. 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 converuent and affordable place to stay for tourists wanting to take 

advantage of both destinations. This will drive significant hotel, rental car, restaurant, and 

attraction revenue for the region. 

Central Florida has been one of the hardest hit areas during this recession, and the increased 

traffic that the Air Service would bring to our region would be not only extremely beneficial 

to this Region, but also to the State through added tourist and business travel. We believe 

strongly in promoting Air Service to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport and expect the 

economic, transportation and quality of life benefits to be important to the recovery of the 

region. 

The City of Lakeland fully supports this grant application, and I strongly encourage your 

approval of the request. If you have any questions or need any additional information, 

please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Kindest regards. 

Fields 

Mayor