S10-110cS08-()38 

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August 2, 2011 P U: 0 2 

•ML CHAMBER '•)^ rOMMflRCi ; -.-

SOUTHWEST INDIANA 

i'he Honorable Ray Lai lood 

Secretary orTransportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7"' Street, SW., Washington DC 20590 

Dear Secretary La Hood: 

1 am writing to express my organization's strong support for the Evansville Regional 

Airport's Small Community Air Sen'icc Development Grant (SCASDG) funding request. 

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana is the largest business association in 

the (ri-slate region of Southwest Indiana, Northwest Kentucky, and Southeast Illinois. 

Our Chamber represents the needs and interests of more than 1,600 member companies. 

The tri-staic region is an economic powerhouse: our region has annual retail sales of $7.4 

billion dollars, contains 10,154 square miles of land, which makes it larger than nine 

states, has a population of more than 822,000, is home to six U.S. Congressional districts, 

and boasts more than $24 billion dollars in personal income. We are also one of the most 

important manufacturing centers in the nation. 

In order to vigorously compete in the global marketplace, we need your help. The 

Evansville Regional Airport plays a key role in connecting our region to the rest of the 

nation, and the world. But for many years, our airport has been saddled with high 

average air fares. As a matter of fact, Evansville Regional Airport has the highest 

average air fares in IN, IL and KY, 40% above the regional average As of the end of the 

third quarter in 2010, Evansville's air fares averaged $226 each way, and $452 per round 

trip. Additionally, because we offer no STAR Alliance partners, we often times do not 

show up on the international map for our foreign visitors. 

Everyone understands how critically important an airport is to developing a community's 

or region's economy. The aforementioned costly fares seriously hamper our ability to 

develop our economy and create the desirable, good paying jobs our citizens need and 

deserve. We have made great progress in our region in tcnns of laying a foundation for 

.successfully competing in the global economy. We have strengthened our public schools, 

and are using our public and private universities and colleges as economic catalysts and 

important partners to improve our workforce. We have enhanced our region's overall 

quality of life througli a myriad of community development investments. We arc 

upgrading oiu- other means of moving people and material, including commencing the 

constniction of Interstate 69 linking Evansville to Indianapolis, and the greater northsouth international trade corridor connecting the United Slates with Canada and Mexico, 

and much more. But frankly, our aiiport remains a weak link. We are losing business 

and pleasure travelers to other airports due to cost and availability factors. And 

companies looking to establish facilities in our region continually cite the cost of air 
SI 0-1 10808-038 

travel out of Evansville, and the lack of connectivity to other markets as a significant 

concern. 

The Evansville Regional Airport must act to tmng lower fares and more options to the 

region. Our airport officials have been in talks with airlines within the STAR alliance 

that upon entry to our market would help bring down fares to our region, but also help us 

to show up on the international map. In order for a Star Alliance airline to take a risk in 

launching service to a new city in the current economic environment, it will require a 

revenue guarantee to offset potential losses during the start-up phase. The SCASDG 

would provide die Evansville Regional Airport with the seed capital necessary to entice a 

new carrier to bring new air service to our market. 

Thank you for your strong consideration of the Evansville Regional Airport's SCASDG 

funding request. We sincerely hope for a favorable decision from the Department of 

Transportation, and look forward to partnering with you on improving mr service to our 

region, and strengthening our regional economy. 

MatthewT. ^eadors 

President & CEO 

The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana (CCS WIN) 

Cc: Doug Joest, Director, Evansville Regional Airport 

Evan Beck, Inunediate Past Chairman, CCS WIN Board of Directors 

Jeff Deig, Chairman, CCS WIN Board of Directors 

Kathy Briscoe, Chairman-elect, CCSWIN Board of Directors 

Greg Wathen, President/CEO, Economic Development Coalition of Southwest IN 
SI 0-110803-030 

LAW OFFICES OF 

FINE & HATFIELD 

A rtVOFESSlONAL CJORTORATION 

520 N. W. SECOND STREET 

P. 0. BOX 77S 

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA +7705-077B 

TELEPHONE (812) 425-3592 

FAX (812) 421-4269 

i\. LiNWOOD SHANNON , III 

Einiiil: lils(3>finc'hacfield.com 

July 29, 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 T^ Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Mr. LaHood, 

I am writing to share ray my support for a Small Community Air Service Development grant 

application submitted by the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District. A vibrant 

airport with good air service is important to business and crucial to the healthy grov^rth of the 

local community. We need more efficient and frequent transportation in and out of the 

community. 

In recent years, the-airlines have scaled back service in response to the recession which has 

made everyday business travel very difficult. As our community has taken a very proactive 

approach to doing business internationally, we are experiencing fewer and fewer flights in 

and out of Evansville which makes it hard for international visitors to come to our region. 

The lack of available flights and limited number of carriers has also increased local fares to 

the point that people are driving 2 to 3 hours one way to fly out of other airports. 

This grant will give our airport management a valuable tool to sell our commvmity to new 

airlines, particularly within the Star Alliance so that we will show up on the international 

map. Adding a new carrier will also result in bringing fares down to a more manageable 

level thus stimulating the local travel market. I thank you for your thoughtful consideration 

of this worthwhile request. 

Very truly yours, 

FIN E «S?>1ATFIELD 

A PROFESSIQVJAL CORPORATION 

By: • " ' 

R Linwood Shannon, III 
SI 0-1 10808-039 

Steven A. Church 

|ii*»*»'"*BS|| President & CEO 

r*:!***!! 270-827-1801, ext. 7813 

'UIDDS 270-827-7829 (Fax) 

'isfwc schurch@qlbbsdc.com 

369 Community Dr. 

Henderson, KY 42420 

August 2. 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

400 7* Street. S.W. 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Mr. LaHood: 

I am writing to share my support for a Small Community Air Service Development grant 

application submitted by the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District. A vibrant 

airport with quality air service is important to business and crucial to the healthy growth of the 

local community. 

Our community has taken a more proactive approach to doing business internationally. In 

fact, at Gibbs, we have many employees (including me) who travel frequently to our 

international locations in Brazil, China, Hungary and Korea. 

Unfortunately, due to the recession, several airlines have scaled back service making 

business travel more difficult, particularly in our region. As a result, we are experiencing 

fewer flights in and out of Ev£\nsville, making it quite difficult for international visitors to travel 

to our region and for Gibbs employees to travel abroad. Additionally, the lack of available 

flights and limited number of carriers have also increased local fares to the point that we are 

driving two to three hours each way to fly out of other airports. 

The Small Community Air Service Development Grant will give our airport management a 

valuable tool to sell our community to new airiines, particulariy within the Star Alliance so that 

we will show up on the international map. Adding a new carrier will also result in bringing 

fares dovwi to a more manageable leyel, thus stimulating the local travel market. .. 

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in reviewing the grant application. 

Sincerely, 

Steven A. Church 

President & CEO/ 
I'fiamptmv! Princeton Hampton Inn 

107 S. Richland Creek Drive, Princeton, IN 47670 

S10-1 10804-016 

tel: 812.385.2400 

fax:812.386.5096 

July 29, 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7* Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Mr. LaHood, 

As our top guest account is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, we are 

experiencing difficulty for our International guests from Japan to have 

transportation into and out of the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport. 

I am writing to share my my support for a Small Community Air Service Development 

grant application submitted by the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District. A 

vibrant airport with good air service is important to business and crucial to the healthy 

growth of the local community. We need more efiScient and frequent transportation in 

and out of the community. 

In recent years, the airlines have scaled back service in response to the recession wliich 

has made everyday business travel very difficult. As our community has taken a very 

proactive approach to doing business internationally, we are experiencing fewer and 

fewer flights in and out of Evansville which makes it hard for international visitors 

to come to our region. The lack of available flights and limited number of carriers has 

also increased local fares to the point that people are driving 2 to 3 hours one way to fly 

out of other airports. 

This grant will give our airport management a valuable tool to sell our community to new 

airlines, particularly within the Star Alliance so that we will show up on the international 

map. Adding a new carrier will also result in bringing fares down to a more manageable 

level thus stimulating the local travel market. I thank you for your thoughtful 

consideration of this worthwhile request. 

Sincerely, 

Virgil Rasche, General Manager 

Dunn Hospitality Group 

Princeton Hampton Inn 

107 S. Richland Creek Drive 

812-385-2400 

Virgil,Rasche@hilton.com 

H HHONORS 

HILTON WORlOvViOE for reservations please visit us at hampton.com or call I.BOO.hampton