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

The Honorable Richard 

### J. Durbin United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Durbin: September 26, 2013

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by Senator Kirk, supporting the application submitted by the Quad City International Airportfor a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Small CommunityAir Service Development Program was establishedto help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues relatedtohigh airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four awards may be to communities 

### inthe same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their airservice deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility 

### in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On June 24, the Departmentissued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 26 for applications. A:s these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. I assure youthat the Departmentwill give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this progran1. A similar letter has been sent to Senator Kirk. Sincerely,

Anthony 

### R. Foxx

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



### The Honorable Mark S. Kirk United States Senate**Washington~** 

### DC 20510 Dear Senator Kirk: September 26, 2013



### Thank you for your letter, cosigned by SenatorDurbin, supporting the application submitted by the Quad City International Airport for a grantunder the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgran1 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 of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four awards may be to communities in the· sru:ne State. In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. OnJune 24, the Department issued an order setting adeadline.ofJuly 26 for applications. As these grantrequests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposaL I assure you thatthe Departmentwill give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is our standardpractice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record oftbls matter. I appreciate your interestin this program. A similar letter has been sent to SenatorDurbin. 

# OF

Anthony R. 

### FoxxThe Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Ave, SE**Washington~** DC 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx: September 5, 2013

We write to express our support for Quad Cities International Airport's application for a Small Community Deve1opment Grant. The Quad Cities region is a vibrant and diverse community andthe Quad Cities Airportin Moline, IL is a vita1 component oftheregional economy. Serving passengers from EasternIowa and Western Illinois, Quad Cities Airport is an important economic driver within the bi-state region. Over the past several years, the communities in the Quad Cities have worked diligently to develop a strong business environment and leading global logistics andmanufacturing industries. As a centralelementofthe region's transportation network, the Quad Cities International Airport plays a critical role cultivating and promoting this economic development within the Quad Cities. Retaining quality and reliable air service 

### inthe Quad Cities is essential to maintain and attract new industries and ensures that local businesses and residents have continued access to key global markets. The airport supports more than 400,000 people throughout the region as well as numerous small-,**medium~,** and Fortune 500-sized companies. These companies, along with the Army'sRockIslandArsenal, provide major employment opportunities and relyheavily on the quality servicesofthe Quad City International Airport as their connectionto the global market.Given the importantrole ofthe Quad City International Airport to theregional transportation system, itis increasingly important thatthe airport be ableto buildupon its existing air service, moderate future fare increases, and make current air service more sustainable. We urge youto give the Quad City InternationalAirport's application every consideration possible. Thankyou for your time and consideration.

Richard 

### J. Durbin U.S. Senator Sincerely,

MarkS. Kirk U.S. Senator