y|-/(ji9a<V-a6 

O 

(XS.Dsportmcn t o f Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

TtanSpOrtClflon Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

OCT 2 2 2010 

The Honorable Judy Nerat i 

Michigan House of Representatives ..^ .^.^ 

Lansing, MI 48909 — :z>'^^'-^ 

Dear Ms. Nerat: ~^ \ :-

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Delta County Airport 

in Escanaba for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(Small Commimity Program). 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. A 

total of $7 million will be available for grant awards in Fiscal Year 2010. Under the 

statute, the Department may use the fiinds to make a maximum of 40 grant awards each 

year, although no more than four 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 significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 30, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 27. As these grant requests 

are pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I carmot comment on 

the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will 

give fiill consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0124 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

:,C' 

„^''\ySusan L. Kurland 

) Assistant Secretary for 

^ iation and International Affairs 
\|_l(H)g2')-()(i5 

S-1407 COHAANOenSON BUILDINQ TTTT W 1WT171> A ^ 00MMITTEE8: "t' 

P.O. BOX 30014 el U U X INHilC/VX GREAT LAKES AND ENVIRONMENT (VC) 

LANSING, Ml 4WO0-7014 AQRICULTURE 

TOLL-FREE: (BBS) 77B-110B 108T H DISTRIC T COMMERCE 

PHONE; (ai7) 37WI16a TRANSPORTATION 

FAX: (517) 37M370 MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

E-MAL: JudynwatOhouH.mi.gov 

WEB: house.ml.govJ|nerat 

August 24, 2010 

Susan Kurland 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

8th Floor, Room W86-310 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

To Whom It May Concern, 

1 have been advised that the Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Michigan, has applied for grant 

fiinding through the Small Community Development Program (Docket OST 2010-0124). The 

Delta County Airport is in my legislative district and I am fully aware of the important services it 

provides to the residents and business community in this rural area. 

The grant proposed emphasizes the need for a marketing plan in order to fully maximize area 

flight seivice. There have been numerous airline service charges, caused by service cessation 

and mergers, which require area-wide clarification. Due to these numerous charges, it is critical 

that the public become fully knowledgeable about the status and opportunity for flight service in 

their local area. 

Needless to say, I fully support and endorse the Delta County Airport grant proposal and 

encourage your consideration and approval. Thank you in advance, and please feel free to 

contact me should you have any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

: ^ 

Judy Nerat 

State Representative, 108th District