THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

The Honorable Reid J. Ribble 

0 .S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congressman Ribble: 

July 17, 2012 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Outagamie County Airport 

for a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

· The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller 

communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or' 

insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than 4 awards 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 flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded. 

On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the 

Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you that the 

Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, l am placing a c y of your letter and this response · 

DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outs' 1e record of this matter. I appr 

this program. 
i1l:!D J. Rili8U: 

· 5 i J l.t"i~J .. :.\·:nrHH Honst: Orr,r:t OutLn':~-:3 

',\1.!.'-;HIHGTOr.J .• UC 205i5 

f"'J·o~;c 1.:o:.n 225-SGG!j 

F:.--: 1?02122ij-~729 

333 '.'V(:'f.T COllCGE AVCNU( 

Arrurro,, WI 54911 

P;;O,IC (S20j3S0-0061 

FA' (9201 380-0051 

!:50 N. MIUTAfW AVEt.!UE 

Sum:: tJU 

(!ongrt~~ of tbe ?Mniteb ~tnteri 

J.,.~ouse of 1\epre.s'entntiues 

GnEEN 8Av, WI 54303 

PilON£ (920) 471-1950 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7r.J1 Street, SW Room 10200 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

June 7, 2012 

COMMITTIOE ON fH€ BUDGET 

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION 

t1ND INFRASTRUCTURE 

SVBCOMMI'tl'EES. 

AVIArtON 

RAtLnOA0:5, Po"•&:: tiNES AND 

Hr...zARDOU!i MATERIAl.$ 

'rVA.T£h P.ESOURC.ES .AND ENVIOONMENT 

I am writing in support for the application of a Small Community Air Service Development Grant as 

submitted by Outagamie County Airport (ATW). I share the Airport's goal of attracting affordable, 

convenient air service to ow· community, helping to foster business and industry growth. 

Commercial Air Service at ATW is suffering after losing the United Airline flight to Denver during the 

economic downturn and Frontier Airlines discontinuing service to Milwaukee last year. These seats were 

critical in ow· market and we need to backfill the loss of capacity. This grant will greatly improve ATW's 

ability to increase ~ervice and prevent Outagamie County residents from being forced to drive to other 

airports to readi" their destinations. 

I believe transportation is critical to helping foster business and industry growth. ATW's grant request 

would offer a unique opportunity to study a concept that has exciting potential. to fundamentally reduce 

aidine operating costs in the market. Lower operating costs for airlines will help stabilize existing service 

and offer exciting opportunities to grow service. 

Ai"r service pl~ys a pivotal role. in meeting· the transportation needs of our community ~nd b'ertefits hot 

only the City of Appleton and Outagamie County, but Northeast Wisconsin as a whole. A key ingredient 

in building a strong and vibrant economy is competitive air service access to the global marketplace. We 

recognize the importance of quality commercial air service to the economy through improved access for 

visitors; and most importantly, to support area businesses, organizations and institutions. 

I appreciate your consideration :of this request. Please feel free to contact Kyle Roskam on my staff at 

202~225-5665 or kyle.roskam@mail.house.gov if you have any questions. 

(" S10~120613-004- PRINTED OrJ HECYCLEO f'APEn 

. .