**UA~of Tr~**  OfficeoftheSecretary ofTransportation



### Mr. Alfred LaPaz President, Mescalero Apache Tribe 

### 10l Central 

### A venue P.O. Box 227 Mescalero> NM 88340 

### DearMr. LaPaz: 

## AUG 212013

Thank you for your tetter ofJuly 26, addressed to Secretary Foxx, supporting the proposal submitted hy the City ofAlamogordo for agrant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community AirService DevelopmeotProgram. The Secretary asked meto

### respond on his behalf. The Small Community Air ServiceDevelopment 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 four awards may beto communities in the same State. In order to provide communities withlatitude in developing solutions to their airservice deficiencies, the statuteprovides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. OnJune 24, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grantthis year file their applications by July 26. As these grant requests are pending befol'e the Department. I cannot comment on the merits ofanyparticular proposal. I assure you that the Departmentwill give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is our standard practice, Iam placing a copy ofyour letterand this respm1se in Docket DOT**~OST -2013~0**  120 a<; 

### acontact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciateyour interest in this program. Sincerely yoars,

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsJuly 26, 2013 P.O. Box.227 101 Central Avenue

HonoraBle Anthony Foxx Secretary ofTransportation 

### US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Mescalero, New Mexico 88340 Office: (575) 464·4494 Fax: (575) 464·9191

Re: City ofAlamogordo's Application for Air SerVice Development Grant
Dear

### Mr. Foxx, 

### On behalfofthe Mescalero Apache Tribe, this letter is to express the Tribe's strong support for the request recently made 

### by the City of Alamogordo for a Small Community Air Service Development grant. The grant would be used to hetp facilitate Regional Jet service to Alamogordo, New Mexico. We agree that a wider range of options for transportation to Alamogordo and the scenic Tularosa Basin would bring tremendous economic benefits, and would be especially helpful to the many small business operators in the area who rely heavily on tourism revenue. As you may know, the Mescalero Apache Tribe operates the popular Inn ofthe Mountain Gods Resort and Casit1o, a full-service destination resort that attracts guests from throughout the Southwest. We believe that the option ofarriving by jet at Alamogordo would help to create a more level playing field in the increasingly competitive gaming and hospitality industry. The availability ofRegional Jet service would be attractive to many ofour current patrons, and would also allow us to market the Inn ofthe Mountain Gods to new customers who currently opt to spend their vacation time and dollars in Arizona and Nevada, due to the relative ease oftravel. The Regional Jet service would also make 

### it easier

### for the Tribe to function as a vibrant, relevant and involved modern government.Tribal leaders frequently travel to Santa Fe, Washington, D.C. and other locations throughout the United States. In many instances, this travel is the best way to maintain relationships with the State ofNew Mexico, with federal agencies, and with othertribal governments. 'I'he availability ofRegional Jet service in Alamogordo would make 

### it easier and more coiwenient for Mescalero Tribal leaders to maintain these important contacts.

-i-'

' j

# I I I 

# I I**~** 

# I l Finally, the Mescalero Apache Tribe has a long history ofunwavering support for 

### the military, and includes marty proud and honorable veterans among 

### the Tribe's members. 

### We believe that Regional Jet service in Alamogordo would be a welcome benefit to those military families currently serving their country at Holloman Air Force Base, and we see that as yet another importantreason to endorse the plan. 

### Thank you for your consideration of

### this information. 

### Ifyou have any questions, please contact me at (575) 464-4494.
Sincerely,

# ~~~0 President

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