& 

U.S.Department of Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

TtansportOtkNI Washington, DC 20590 

Office of fhe Secretary 

of Transportation 

SEP 0 9 2011 -r; 

2—-

- w , > " . 

Mr. John F. Bergstrom ;^o 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer i<> 

Bergstrom Corporation ^ ''-^ S 

P.O. Box 777 > S§- * 

150 North Green Bay Road ^o S§ ^ 

Neenah,WI 54956 OJ C/3 

Dear Mr. Bergstrom: 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal submitted by the 

Outagamie County Regional Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Coirununity Program). The Secretary has asked that I 

respond on his behalf -

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

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

Under the statute, the Department may use the funds 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 v^th latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

deficiencies, the statute provides significant flexibility in how the financial assistance 

may be used. 

On July 1, the Department issued an order requesting that conmiunities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 2. As these grant requests are 

pending before the Department, I am sure you understand that I cannot comment on the 

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

full 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-2011-0119 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 

firee to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
sio-iio; 

John f Bergstfom 

Chavmsn and O ^ E"OCiii<v« Oibcof 

Bergstrom Corporation 

July 19,2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7* Street, SW Room 10200 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood, 

Bergstrom Automotive strongly supports the Outagamie 

County Regional Airport's (ATW) Small Community Air Service 

Development Grant, which will allow for new and improved service. 

The success of air service contributes greatly to the economic vitality 

of our Fox Cities. Quality air service aids oiu* economy through 

improved access for visitors, tourism, and is vital to business growth 

and retention. 

We support Outagamie County Regional Airport's plan to 

attract new service into the market. The airport's recent efforts to 

build strong business community support for air service development 

have been impressive and are critical to long-term success. The 

increased exposure with the help of 2010 Small Community Air 

Service Grant was successful in driving the awareness of flying 

locally. We look forward to continuing to partner with the airport in 

solidifying local business partnerships and promoting the airport. 

Our Community will suffer as a result of the loss of United 

Airline non-stop flight to Denver during the economic downturn and 

the recent announcement of Frontier Airlines that their service to 

Milwaukee will be discontinued this September. These seats were 

critical, and we need to backfill that lost capacity. Although ATW's 

message of "fly local" resonated with our community, the 

effectiveness is hindered with this loss of service which forces us to 

drive to other airports. 

Posi OHico Bo« 777 

tSO Norm Qraon Bay Rood 

Neenah, Wisconsin 54956 

920-722.1111 

E-mail; itt>4t)«'ga1(omauto.coin 
SlO-1 10, 

The inconvenience of having to drive to Oshkosh, Green Bay, 

or Milwaukee to fly to annual or quarterly factory meetings held 

across the country results in lost time and productivity for our 

company. Our automotive leadership team, as well as myself, 

appreciate having a local airport that is able to offer this service. 

Please accept our support of the Outagamie County Regional 

Airport's grant request for funds to be used to supplement local funds 

to support new air service. 

JFB.dmh