U.S. Departmentof Transportation Officeofthe-Secretary ofTranspor:talion



### The Honorable Scott Tipton U.S. House ofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman Tipton: ,

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## JUL 52012 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

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### Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by Montrose Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small CommunityAirService Development Program. The Small Community Air Service Deveiopment Program was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Underthe statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. OnMay 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested inreceiving 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 particularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,

# -~~ Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program

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# .. June II, 2012 Associate Director Aloha Ley
. . • US J)epartment ofTranspohation Department's Docket Operations and Media Management Division, Room PL-40I, Department ofTranspOiiation, 400 

### 7'h Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20590. 

### RE: Small Community Air Service Development Grant Dear Director Ley,

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# airi .pleased to write this letter on behalfofthe Montrose Airport. The airport is working to secure federal support through the Small Community Air Service Development Grant. Montrose Airport is a non-towered public airport located in Southwest, Colorado, which provides critical access to some ofColorado's most scenic areas as well as ski resorts. Montrose is highly dependent on the tourism industry. Due to the down tum in the economy and increased airfares, visitors to the region have declined. This reduction has had considerable consequences on local economies and businesses. The airport's proposal seeks to expand the number ofnon-stop destinations that provide service to Montrose. This will provide access to other key west coast markets and strengthen the regions ability to execute on its economic diversification efforts. Increased tourism could attract new businesses, boost local economies and existing businesses, and assist with ensuring the continued longevity ofan important airport in this**rellJO~e** region ofColorado. 

## rrecognize the significant budget challenges faced by the Department ofTransportation. However, I would encourage you to keep in mind the significant contribution tor local and state economies that the Montrose Airport provides.
Sincerely,

Scott Tipton Member ofCongress .**~·** ·. _. ·.