THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Tammy Baldwin 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 2051 0 

Dear Senator Baldwin: 

August 26,2013 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the La Crosse Municipal Airport 

for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

The Small Coilliliunity Air SerVice Development Program was established to help smaller 

COU1ll1unities 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 san1e 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 requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by July 26. 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 f11ll 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 program. 

Anthony R. Foxx 
TAMMY BALDWIN 

1\'ISCONSiN 

·united ~rotrs ~rnotr WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

July 25, 2013 

The Honorable Anthony Foxx, Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary Foxx: 

COMMITTEoS: 

HEALTH, EDUGATIQN, 

LA60Ft AND PENSIONS 

BUDGET 

SPECIAL COMMlTTl'.'E 

ON AGING 

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY 

AND GOVEf1NMENTAL AFFAif1S 

lt is my pleasure to offer my support for the La Crosse Area Development Corporation's application 

for funding from the Allport Small Community Air Service Development Grant program through the 

U.S. Department of Transportation, As you know, this funding will assist in increasing essential and 

necessary services at the La Crosse Municipal Airport to better support local and. regional economic 

expansion. The CFDA number is 20.930, and the Funding Opportunity Number is DOT-OST-2013-

0120. 

The La Crosse Municipal Airport, serving the La Crosse Metropolitan area including west-central 

Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and northeastern Iowa, while located in the central business 

district of La Crosse, Wisconsin, has in recent years, seen air service and passenger voJume decrease 

largely due to major airline bankruptcies, subsequent mergers, and the continuing increase in fuel 

costs and ticket prices. Even more so, the La Crosse region has been faced with 58% less passenger 

traffic due to competing larger area airports lower ticket costs, direct flight availability, and flight 

frequency. Grant funding would help the La Crosse Municipal Airport to attract a new low fare 

carrier or expand current services to keep pace with the growing needs of the area's business 

community. The introduction of a new airline or additional non-stop destinations could stimulate the 

current business market, as well as attract the attention of new businesses, many who require the 

convenience of air travel with lower price tickets, as well as more efficient routing to their final 

destination. Funding for this project is critical and will not only ensure affordable and accessible air 

services for La Crosse area residents, but for the growing economic development of the La Crosse 

Metropolitan Area. 

As you know, providing communities like the La Crosse Municipal Airport with the resources 

needed to enhance and sustain their current and future air services for the economic betterment of the 

area's residents and business community is vital. I ask that you give full and fair consideration to the 

La Crosse Area Development Corporation's application for funding. Please do not hesitate to contact 

TifHmy Henry in my Milwaukee Senate office directly at ( 414) 297-4451 should you have any 

additional questions. Thank you for your assistance and attention with this request. 

Sincerely, 

Tammy Baldwin 

United States Senator