### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

### September 19, 20 13**;~** r·; {\ l

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### The Honorable Ann

## L. Schneider Secretary illinois Department ofTransportation 2300 South Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 

## 62764 Dear Secretary Schneider: Thankyou for your letter supporting the application submitted by the Quad City International Airportfora grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small CommunityAir Service Development Program. The Small CommunityAir Service DevelopmentProgram was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Departmentmay make amaximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four 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. On June 24, the Department issued an order setting adeadline ofJuly 26 for applications. As these grantrequests are pendingbefore the Department, I caru1ot comment onthe merits ofany pmticularproposal. I assure youthatthe Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals that have been properly filed. As is our standardpractice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interestin tllis program.

Anthony R. Foxx

# Illinois artment of 

# lransportation Office ofthe Secretary

. 2300 South Dirksen Parkway I Springfield, Illinois /62764 Telephone 2'17/782-5597 July 26, 

### 2013

The Honorable Anthony 

### R. Foxx Secretary 

### Un\te<:\ States Department ofTransportation 

### 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx: We are pleased to submit this letter1n support ofthe Quad Ctty International Airport's application for the Small Community Air Service Development Grant. The Quad City International Airport, located in Moline, Illinois, serves passengers from throughout the regions of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. The grant will support marketing efforts promoting existing, and possibly future, air service providers and their routes. Retaining quality and reliable air service in the Quad Cities is critical to the region's globally connected businesses and residents. The Quad Cities region is a bi-state community with a population more than 

### 400,000. A diverse mix of Fortune 500 companies call the greater Quad Cities region home, including the world headquarters of Deere and Company, the Han Company, Modern Woodmen ofAmerica, KONE Elevator/Escalator, and Alcoa. In addition, the United States Department of Defense's Rock Island Arsenal is located in the region, providing critical global logistics, training, services and equipment manufacturing forthe jointforces. The Illinois Department ofTransportation supports the Quad City International Airport's primary goals to solidify existing air service, moderate future fare incree1ses and make current air service more sustainable. These goals are setting the course for future air service and economic growth in the Quad Cities region. Thank you for your favorable consideration ofthe Quad City International Airport's application forthe S"fnall Community Air Service Development Grant, and your interest in the Illinois transportation system. Sincerely,



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# U ·**~&** · · Ann 

### L. Schneider Secretary