THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

September 19, 2013 - -;- f ·._ i ~' 

The Honorable Elizabeth Warren 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Warren: 

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Thank you for your letter supporting the application submitted by the Wes.tover Metropolitan 

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

Developn1ent 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 fotu· 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 June 24, the Department issued an order setting a deadline of July 26 for applications. 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 standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in. Docket 

DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Anthony R. F oxx 
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ELIZABETH WARREN 

BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN 

f'DUCAilON, LABOR ANO PENSIONS 

SPECIAL COMMIITEE ON AGING 

The Honorable Anthony R. 

United States Secretary ofTransportation 

United States Department of Transportation 

400 7th Street SW 

Washington, DC 20590 

Secretary F oxx, 

2013 

I an1 writing in support of the application for funds under the Small Community Air 

Service Development submitted by the Metropolitan Airport, Chicopee, 

Massachusetts. Westover Metropolitan Airport is a from the in ammmt of 

$450,000 with a local matching $50,000 airport in-kind incentives of $308,330 for a 

total project of$808,330. used to fund marketing of new airline and to 

ensure the continued viability of the 

Westover Metropolitan Airport is a joint military/civilian facility which home to the United 

States Air Force Command's 439th Airlift Wing. Commercial service at 

was very successful in 2007 2008, but to jump in fuel and subsequent 

dissolution of Skybus airlines, the airport saw a drop in commercial clients. 

The civilian airport is owned by Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation (WMDC), a 

non-profit, quasi-public industrial developm.ent corporation, and is located in of the 

Pioneer Valley. Its dose proximity to Hartford, Brattleboro, Boston, and 

Universities and Colleges with 120,000 students makes Westover a prime location with the 

potential for a thriving air service market. Westover is a FAA Part 139 Air CruTier classified 

airport including a recently renovated full-service terminal and Transportation 

Security Administration equipment and facilities. 
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ELIZABETH WARREN 

EDUCATION, LABOR AND f'Ef\lSlOi\16 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGlNG 

Westover is cun·ently used for public IS 

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:z.abeth WatTen 

nited States Senator 

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