### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC 20590



### The Honorable Reid 

### J. Ribble 

### 0.S. House ofRepresentatives 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 ofTransportation'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 Departmentmay make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities inthe same State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects 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 ofany 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 ofyour letter and this response · DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outs' 1e record ofthis matter. I appr this program.i1l:!D J. Rili8U:

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The Honorable Ray LaHood U.S. Department ofTransportation 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 ofa Small CommunityAir Service Development Grant as submitted by Outagamie County Airport (ATW). I share theAirport's goal ofattracting 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 FrontierAirlines discontinuing service to Milwaukee last year. These seats were critical in ow· market and we needto backfill the loss ofcapacity. 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 believetransportation 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·thetransportation needs ofour community

### ~nd b'ertefits hot only the City ofAppleton and Outagamie County, butNortheast 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 ofquality 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:ofthis request. Please feel free to contact Kyle Roskam on my staffat**202~225-5665** orkyle.roskam@mail.house.gov ifyou have any questions.



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