APPLICATION UNDER

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

DOCKET DOT-OST-2014-0133 

SUMMARY INFORMATION1

All applicants must submit this Summary Information schedule, as the application 

coversheet, a completed standard form SF424 and the full application proposal on 

www.grants.gov. 

For your preparation convenience, this Summary Information schedule is located at 

http://www.dot.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP

A. PROVIDE THE LEGAL SPONSOR AND ITS DUN AND BRADSTREET (D&B) DATA UNIVERSAL 

NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBER, INCLUDING +4, EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 

(EIN) OR TAX ID.

Legal Sponsor Name: 

Name of Signatory Party for Legal Sponsor:

DUNS Number:

EIN/Tax ID:

B. LIST THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY OR CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITIES APPLYING: 

1.____________________________________________________ 

2.____________________________________________________ 

3.____________________________________________________ 

4.____________________________________________________ 

C. PROVIDE THE FULL AIRPORT NAME AND 3-LETTER IATA AIRPORT CODE FOR THE 

APPLICANT(S) AIRPORT(S) (ONLY PROVIDE CODES FOR THE AIRPORT(S) THAT ARE ACTUALLY 

SEEKING SERVICE).

1. 2.

3. 4.

 

1 Note that the Summary Information does not count against the 20-page limit of the SCASDP application.
DOES THE AIRPORT SEEKING SERVICE HOLD AN AIRPORT OPERATING CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY 

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION UNDER 14 CFR PART 139? (IF “NO”, PLEASE 

EXPLAIN WHETHER THE AIRPORT INTENDS TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OR WHETHER AN 

APPLICATION UNDER PART 139 IS PENDING.) 

Yes No (explain)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ 

D. LIST THE 2-DIGIT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CODE APPLICABLE TO THE SPONSORING 

ORGANIZATION, AND IF A CONSORTIUM, TO EACH PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY.

1. 2.

3. 4.

E. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 

Not a Consortium Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium

Community currently receives subsidized Essential Air Service

Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Air 

Service Development Program Grant

If previous recipient: Provide year of grant(s):_______________________________; and, 

the text of the grant agreement section(s) setting forth the scope of the grant project:

_________________________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________________________________ 

F. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES) 

PUBLIC PRIVATE

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.
G. PROJECT PROPOSAL:

 1. GRANT GOALS: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 

Launch New Carrier Secure Additional Service Upgrade Aircraft

First Service New Route Service Restoration

Regional Service Surface Transportation Professional Services2

Other (explain below)

2. FINANCIAL TOOLS TO BE USED: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 

Marketing (including Advertising): promotion of the air service to the public 

Start-up Cost Offset: offsetting expenses to assist an air service provider in setting up a 

new station and starting new service (for example, ticket counter reconfiguration)

Revenue Guarantee: an agreement with an air service provider setting forth a minimum 

guaranteed profit margin, a portion of which is eligible for reimbursement by the 

community 

Recruitment of Air Carrier: air service development activities to recruit new air service, 

including expenses for airport marketers to meet with air service providers to make the 

case for new air service

Fee Waivers: waiver of airport fees, such as landing fees, to encourage new air service; 

counted as in-kind contributions only 

Ground Handling Fee: reimbursement of expenses for passenger, cabin, and ramp (below 

wing) services provided by third party ground handlers 

Travel Bank: travel pledges, or deposited monetary funds, from participating parties for 

the purchase of air travel on an air carrier, with defined procedures for the subsequent use 

of the pledges or the deposited funds; counted as in-kind contributions only 

 

2 “Professional Services” involve a community contracting with a firm to produce a product such as a marketing 

plan, study, air carrier proposal, etc.
Other (explain below) 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

H. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT: 

Full ILS Outer/Middle Marker Published Instrument Approach 

Localizer Other (specify)

I. PROJECT COST: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA

LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT

1 Federal amount requested

2 State cash financial contribution

Local cash financial contribution

3a Airport cash funds

3b Non-airport cash funds

3 Total local cash funds (3a + 3b)

4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1+2+3)

In-Kind contribution

5a Airport In-Kind contribution**

5b Other In-Kind contribution**

5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION 

(5a + 5b) 

6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+5)

J. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS**

For funds in lines 5a (Airport In-Kind contribution) and 5b (Other In-Kind contribution), please 

describe the source(s) of fund(s) and the value ($) of each.
K. IS THIS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY AN AFFECTED STATE UNDER EXECUTIVE 

ORDER 12372 PROCESS? 

a. This application was made available to the State under the Executive Order 12372 

Process for review on (date) _____________. 

b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372, but has not been selected by the State for review.

c. Program is not covered by E.O. 12372. 

L. IS THE LEAD APPLICANT OR ANY CO-APPLICANTS DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT?

(IF “YES”, PROVIDE EXPLANATION) 

No Yes (explain)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ 

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

INCLUDED? ITEM

For Immediate Action

Determine Eligibility

New Grants.gov users must register with www.grants.gov.

Existing Grants.gov users must verify existing www.grants.gov account has not expired 

and the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is current.

For Submission by 5:00 PM EDT on July 31, 2014

Communities with active SCASDP grants: notify DOT/X50 of intent to terminate 

existing grant in order to be eligible for selection in FY2014 

Complete Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF424) via www.grants.gov

Summary Information schedule complete and used as cover sheet (see Appendix B)

Application of up to 20 one-sided pages (excluding any letters from the 

community or an air carrier showing support for the application), to include:

• A description of the community’s air service needs or deficiencies.

• A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program.

• A detailed description of the funding necessary for implementation of the 

community's project. 

• An explanation of how the proposed project differs from any previous projects 

for which the community received SCASDP funds (if applicable). 

• Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for administering the program.

• A motion for confidential treatment (if applicable) – see Appendix D below.
Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority

Application for Small Community

Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2014-0013

DUNS # 0974173490000

Congressional District VA-005

Legal Sponsor:

Penny Shifflett

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Director of Finance and Administration

Charlottesville, VA 22911
1

July 30, 2014

Ms. Brooke Chapman

Associate Director

Small Community Air Service Development Program

United States Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

W86-307

Washington, DC 20590

RE: Small Community Air Service Development Program:

 Docket OST-2014-0113 __________________

Dear Ms. Chapman:

Included with this letter is Charlottesville Albemarle Airport’s (CHO) Small Community Air Service 

Development Program grant application. The purpose of this grant application was identified during the 

FY-2015 budget process when the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority, a financially selfsufficient entity, was forced to significantly cut its marketing and advertising budget in order to balance 

its operating budget. As a result of this reduction, the Authority turned to its community which rallied 

around its Airport with an amazing response. A public-private partnership consisting of twenty-two local 

organizations was formed for the purpose of securing marketing support for current and potential 

improved commercial air service deemed critical to the economic development of the region. Prior to 

filing this application, CHO conducted extensive research and analysis of the local air service market to 

support the need of what we have titled the 24 month “Your Airport” jump start campaign, marketing 

CHO to the region it serves.

The Partnership has been formed to focus the efforts and resources of the community, in conjunction with 

the proposed assistance of the U.S. Department of Transportation, to achieve several specific goals:

 Support existing commercial air services to insure that they maintain current frequency, 

capacity and gauge at CHO;

 Reverse passenger leakage to neighboring airports, especially Richmond International Airport 

(RIC) and Washington Dulles (IAD); and

 Serve the community’s air service needs to a higher extent than at present, in recognition of 

the current and future growth in air travel demand being generated by demographic and 

economic growth in the region.

Our application requests that a grant of $200,000 be made available for the development and 

implementation of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Marketing Plan (“Marketing Plan”). The 

proposed grant will be combined with $25,000 in cash funding and $122,870 of in-kind funding from the 

Partnership to fund the 24 month “Your Airport” campaign, as described in this application.
2

The immediate need for the development and implementation of a high impact marketing plan and the 

request for funding results from the following industry trends that are impacting both the demand for 

commercial air service and the quality of current air service at smaller communities like Charlottesville:

 The rapid demographic and economic growth taking place in the regional area surrounding 

Charlottesville which is generating greater demand for air travel services;

 The expansion of University of Virginia and related research programs and activities which is 

also increasing air travel demand;

 The recent changes in commercial pilot hours for regional aircraft that has resulted in fewer 

pilots and fewer regional flights; and

 The escalation in fuel prices making 50-seat regional jets (RJs) less economical to operate to 

cities like Charlottesville.

The Marketing Plan will aggressively seek to encourage more travelers in Central Virginia to reverse 

years of leakage to other airports and encourage passengers to fly locally instead.

We respectfully request approval of this grant request and hope that the U.S. Department of 

Transportation will commit to support our continued efforts to improve air service at Charlottesville 

Albemarle Airport in Charlottesville, VA and the nine surrounding counties that it serves.

Sincerely,

Melinda Crawford, A.A.E. Penny Shifflett

Executive Director Legal Sponsor

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Director, Finance and Administration

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport
3

1 The CHO Market

The City of Charlottesville, VA, the county seat of Albemarle County is located 115 miles from 

Washington, DC, and is essentially halfway between Boston and Atlanta. Centrally located in Virginia, 

Charlottesville is about 70 miles from the state capital of Richmond. The City sits on the Rivanna River 

sandwiched between the Southwest Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains.

CONNECTED

The greater Charlottesville region is well connected with convenient access to major highways, an 

intensely creative culture and close proximity to larger metropolitan areas. The region is an emerging 

center for new business development in communication, information technology, biotechnology, light 

manufacturing, and distribution.

ANCHORED

Home of the University of Virginia, one of the nation’s premier academic and research 

institutions, the area is also host to more than two dozen wineries and some of the 

nation’s most acclaimed vintners that add to the backdrop of largely agricultural 

settings and mountain views.

OUTSTANDING HEALTH SCIENCES and HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT

The availability of outstanding healthcare services not only represents a rapidly growing component of 

the regional economy, but it is an amenity that enhances the environment for both businesses and 

residents.

The University of Virginia Health Sciences Center is a major teaching and research 650-bed hospital that 

has a Level One trauma center, offers medevac helicopter service, and ranks among the 100 best hospitals 

in the United States.

EMPLOYMENT

Charlottesville’s employment is supported by the following major industries:

 Construction

 Education

 Electronic equipment & instruments

 Finance and insurance

 Healthcare

 IT and professional services

 Lodging

 Publishing and broadcasting

 Retail

Kiplinger.com recently named Charlottesville as the fourth best city in America 

for jobs. Cities on this list have strong job markets but are expected to create new, well-paying positions. 

Specifically, the report stated that, “The home of Thomas Jefferson’s university is an unexpected blend of 

southern charm and liberal edge, with a strong business base.”

CHO Airport serves a region that is home to an exceptionally skilled and educated workforce, due to the 

presence of two community colleges and the University of Virginia. Over 32% of the region has at least a 

Bachelor’s degree, with an even higher concentration within the Charlottesville MSA. These workers add 
4

depth of knowledge and expertise to a business’ workforce, an essential asset in today’s modern 

economy.

VIBRANT BUSINESSES 

Therefore, the region is very attractive for business and professional services companies, including 

LexisNexis, MPS, SNL Financial, and CFA Institute, and for information technology companies, such as 

Terremark Worldwide, Inc., GE Intelligent Platforms, and WillowTree Apps. The National Ground 

Intelligence Center and the Defense Intelligence Agency anchor a robust defense sector which includes 

Aerojet, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, NIITEK, and Privaris.

Successful advanced manufacturers have also found a home in Central Virginia including Continental 

Teves, Euro-Composites, Klöckner Pentaplast, Northrop Grumman, Ashbury International, TE 

Connectivity, RIDGID, California Sidecar, and MicroAire Surgical Instruments.

Major Businesses:

Business travelers are made in Central Virginia. Home to the University of Virginia (UVa), the region 

offers a rich network of University and community resources to support entrepreneurs and their 

businesses, including investment funding, professional development, affordable office and laboratory 

space, incubator and accelerator support, mentorship and networking opportunities. A major research 

institution, with sponsored research awards totaling more than $338 million annually, the University of 

Virginia produces innovative research discoveries with the potential to address critical issues in medicine, 

engineering, the life sciences, education, business and society. The University seeks to maximize the 

impact of these discoveries by bringing them to the public through strategic partnerships with industry, 

government, new ventures and others. To enhance its commitment to the regional economy, the 

University has invested heavily in increasing collaboration between the University and the private sector 

and streamlining the commercialization of UVA research. According to a recent survey, University of 

Virginia technologies have created 53 companies and over 860 jobs, half of which are located in Central 

Virginia.

DEMOGRAPHICS

It is often useful to compare current figures and projected growth rates to other similar cities within the 

same geographic region that is served by commercial airports. Therefore, Charlottesville will be 

compared to the following cities for all demographic and economic indicators: Lynchburg, Newport 

News, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach. These cities were chosen due to their similar 
5

geographic locations in Central/Southern Virginia. Most city comparisons are performed on a 

Metropolitan Standard Statistical Area (MSA1) basis. For a more accurate comparison, we will use the 

cities of Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach as opposed to the combined MSA for all three. The 

Charlottesville MSA includes the City of Charlottesville as well as Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, and 

Nelson counties. For growth rates, Charlottesville will also be compared to the state of Virginia and the 

United States as a whole. 

Exhibit 1:

The Charlottesville MSA is projected to grow from its current size of 199,000 to nearly 211,000 by 2015. 

With a projected growth rate of 6% from 2010 to 2015, Charlottesville will grow faster than 4 of the 7 

cities included in this comparison, slower than the growth rate for the Commonwealth of Virginia but 

slightly faster than the growth rate projected for the U.S. as a whole (see Exhibit 1). 

Exhibit 2:

Total households in Charlottesville are projected to grow by 9% through 2015, 50% faster than the 

projected growth rate for population. This is greater than 3 of the 7 cities included in the comparison, but 

again, slightly slower than the growth rate for the Commonwealth of Virginia but faster than the growth 

rate projected for the United States as a whole (see Exhibit 2).

 

1 An MSA has at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social 

and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.
6

2 AIR SERVICE ISSUES (Needs and Deficiencies)

Current O&D Passengers

CHO generates 438,200 annual passengers (enplaned and deplaned) according to the U.S. DOT O&D 

Survey (year ended December 31, 2013). This figure equates to 573 total passengers per day each way 

(PDEW)2, a growth of 30.2% or 5.4% compound annual growth rate from five years ago in 2009. Total 

passengers can be subdivided into 404,000 domestic passengers (528.1 PDEWs) and 34,200 international 

passengers (44.7 PDEWs). 92% of CHO’s passengers are domestic; whereas, 8% are traveling to 

international destinations.

Convenience of nonstop air service always plays a role in a traveler’s decision of which airport to uses, so 

it should come as no surprise that three of CHO’s top ten O&D destinations are markets served nonstop 

from CHO. With the initiation of nonstop service to Chicago in 2011, the Chicago route has become 

Charlottesville’s top air service market, averaging 45 PDEWs, and replacing New York City3, which is 

now the third-ranked market behind Atlanta. Among the other top ten markets, three are in the West – the 

Bay Area4, the LA Basin5, and Denver; two are in Texas which has come on strong in recent years with 

Dallas6and Houston7now in the top 10; one is in the Southeast region – Charlotte; and the remaining 

market is Orlando8. Of these ten markets, six do not have nonstop service which indicates CHO’s 

reliance on service to connecting hubs. 

Exhibit 3 below shows a ranking of the top ten O&D city markets by PDEWs.

Exhibit 3:

Rank City Passengers % of Total

1 Chicago 32,692 7%

2 Atlanta 23,398 5%

3 New York City 22,788 5%

4 San Francisco 15,450 4%

5 Los Angeles 14,680 3%

6 Dallas/Ft. Worth 14,602 3%

7 Denver 14,452 3%

8 Houston 13,000 3%

9 Orlando 11,402 3%

10 Charlotte 10,466 2%

Other 264,128 60%

Total 438,200 100%

 

2

Passengers per day each way, or PDEWS, is an industry acronym measuring average daily round-trip O&D traffic levels. 

PDEWs are calculated from total annual O&D passengers divided by the number of days in a year times two (i.e., annual O&D 

/ (365*2).

3 New York City includes Newark (EWR), Kennedy (JFK), and LaGuardia (LGA) airports.

4 Bay Area includes Oakland (OAK), San Francisco (SFO), and San Jose (SJC) airports.

5 LA Basin includes Burbank (BUR), Los Angeles (LAX), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT), and Orange County (SNA) 

airports.

6 Dallas includes Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) airports.

7 Houston includes Houston Hobby (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) airports.

8 Orlando includes Orlando International (MCO) and Orlando Sanford (SFB) airports.
7

Current Scheduled Service

CHO currently has 19 daily nonstop flights to six destinations provided by American Airlines, Delta 

Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways as shown in Exhibit 4. The airport now has 135 weekly 

scheduled commercial aircraft departures supplying over 7,000 weekly seats, with an average of 53.8 

seats per departure. Compared to last year’s schedule (July 24-31, 2013), departures are down slightly by 

4% for a decrease of 5 weekly, or .7 daily, flights. However, weekly seats are up 16.9% for a total 

increase of 1,051 weekly or 150.1 daily seats as airlines have been upgauging their flights. These 

statistics show that average aircraft size has also increased by 9.4 seats, or 21.1% since last year.

Despite this modest growth in capacity, service at CHO has a large percentage of seats (47%) operated by 

turboprop equipment. Although this has declined year over year, we are at a much higher percentage of 

turboprop seats than we were five years ago (35% in July, 2010). 44% of departures and 47% of weekly 

seats are still flown with turboprops. Comparatively, only 2% of departures at nearby Richmond 

International Airport (RIC) are flown by turboprops and 1% of weekly seats. 

Exhibit 4:

Exhibit 5 shows CHO’s service patterns for the week of July 24-31, 2014.

Exhibit 5:

Carrier Market Equipment Type Weekly 

Departures

Seat 

Departures

American New York-LaGuardia (LGA) Embraer Regional Jet-140 7 308

Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) Canadair Regional Jet 14 700

American TOTAL 21 1,008

Delta Atlanta (ATL) Canadair Regional Jet 20 1,000

New York-LaGuardia (LGA) Canadair Regional Jet 6 390

Delta TOTAL 26 1,390

United Washington-Dulled (IAD) De Havilland Dash-8-200 21 777

US Airways Charlotte (CLT) Canadair Regional Jet 29 1,450

De Havilland Dash-8-300 8 296

De Havilland Dash-8-200 11 550

CLT Total 48 2,296

Philadelphia (PHL) De Havilland Dash-8-100/200 19 703

US Airways TOTAL: 115 5,295

Grand Total: 183 8,470
8

As shown in Exhibit 6 below, service at CHO over the past ten years has been relatively stable.

Exhibit 6:

Calendar Year

Destination Carrier 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Chicago O'Hare (ORD) American Eagle

Atlanta (ATL) Delta Connection

Cincinnati (CVG) Delta Connection

New York LaGuardia 

(LGA) Delta Connection

Detroit (DTW) Delta Connection/ 

Northwest Airlink

Washington-Dulles 

(IAD) United Express

Charlotte (CLT) US Airways Express

New York LaGuardia 

(LGA) US Airways Express

Philadelphia (PHL) US Airways Express

Due to the strength of the local market, CHO has retained nonstop service to most hubs except for the 

discontinuation of Detroit in 2010, which was quickly replaced by American service to ORD in 2011. 

Nonstop service to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh was discontinued as a result of greater strategic corporate 

decisions by Delta and US Airways respectively when dismantling their connecting hubs.

CHO FARES

A fare comparison on an individual market level will provide a better comparison among airports than 

just the average fare for each airport. Exhibit 7 shows a comparison of the fares at each airport in CHO’s 

top 20 markets and analyzes how CHO fares compare to its two physically closest rival airports, RIC and 

LYH. CHO has higher fares than either RIC or LYH in about half its markets, but in more than twothirds of its markets, its fares are higher than RIC’s. This is important to note since RIC offers far more 

capacity for CHO travelers to “leak” to than does LYH. As a matter of LYH offers only 5% of the 

available weekly seats that RIC offers, and CHO has 194% more weekly seats than LYH does. LYH’s 

fares exceed CHO’s some of the time because of their lack of capacity relative to RIC. Hence, CHO 

suffers from a high degree of leakage to RIC because of its higher fares and their influence on a 

customer’s choice of airports.

Exhibit 7:

Rank City CHO RIC LYH Highest vs. RIC Highest Overall

1 Chicago 174 235 216

2 Atlanta 205 143 170  

3 New York City 218 231 203 

4 San Francisco 279 248 293 

5 Los Angeles 258 244 283 

6 Dallas/Ft. Worth 188 240 216

7 Denver 197 228 198

8 Houston 192 226 226

9 Orlando 152 111 157 

10 Charlotte 117 194 101

11 Boston 206 128 212 

12 Phoenix 227 192 225  
9

13 Tampa 189 174 186  

14 New Orleans 192 183 199 

15 Minneapolis/St. Paul 231 222 215  

16 Seattle 256 243 315 

17 Las Vegas 271 210 224  

18 Nashville 209 188 201  

19 San Diego 268 223 247  

20 Miami 185 157 161  

CHO Leaks Significant Amount of Traffic to Other Airports

The Charlottesville Catchment Area

The Charlottesville Catchment Area has been defined using relative drive times and distances from CHO 

and represents the area where CHO would be expected to be either the primary choice of airport or could 

be expected to draw the majority of passengers should it have appropriate service. 

The Charlottesville Catchment Area, as shown in Exhibit 8 below, is between 40 and 50 miles from CHO 

and within a 60-90 minute drive from the airport. It is the area within which CHO is the closest airport of 

comparable or larger size. The figure below provides a map of the nine-county CHO region where we 

expect to derive the majority of passengers due to our proximity to passenger houses, businesses, 

destinations, etc.

Exhibit 8:

Close to one million passengers from the Charlottesville Catchment Area used CHO or other local 

airports for domestic and international travel in calendar year 2013. 87% of this traffic consisted of 

domestic passengers (875,000). South Florida9 with over 49,000 passengers, was the top domestic 

destination followed closely by the Boston area (48,000 passengers) and the San Francisco Bay (35,000 

passengers) as well as the LA Basin (35,000 passengers). Exhibit 9 below highlights the top domestic 

destinations for passengers originating from the Charlottesville Catchment Area. The top 20 domestic 

destinations account for nearly 60% of all Charlottesville Catchment Area domestic passengers.

 

9

South Florida includes Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Miami (MIA), and West Palm Beach (PBI) airports.
10

Exhibit 9:

Charlottesville Catchment Area

Top Domestic Destinations 

(Calendar Year 2013)

Rank City Passengers % of Total

1 Orlando 57,508 7%

2 New York 47,377 5%

3 Atlanta 42,284 5%

4 Chicago 41,408 5%

5 Boston 38,585 4%

6 San Francisco 31,716 4%

7 Los Angeles 31,472 4%

8 Denver 25,524 3%

9 Dallas/Fort Worth 23,072 3%

10 Fort Lauderdale 22,628 3%

11 Tampa 20,652 2%

12 Houston 18,955 2%

13 Miami 18,954 2%

14 Las Vegas 16,736 2%

15 Minneapolis 16,016 2%

16 Seattle/Tacoma 15,307 2%

17 Phoenix 13,812 2%

18 Austin 13,244 2%

19 Charlotte 12,694 1%

20 San Diego 12,061 1%

Subtotal 520,006 59%

All Others 354,616 41%

Total 874,622 100%

International traffic from the Charlottesville Catchment Area using CHO or other local airports had a total 

of 124,000 passengers in calendar year 2013. London, UK, with nearly 9,000 passengers, was the top 

destination followed by Cancun, Mexico (4,500 passengers) and Frankfurt, Germany (4,100 passengers). 

Exhibit 10 below highlights the top international destinations for the passengers originating from the 

Charlottesville Catchment Area. The top 25 international destinations account for 58% of all 

Charlottesville Catchment Area international passengers.

Exhibit 10:

Charlottesville Catchment Area

Top International Destinations 

(Calendar Year 2013)

Rank City Passengers % of Total

1 London 8,685 7%

2 Cancun 4,539 4%

3 Frankfurt 4,160 3%

4 Paris 4,101 3%

5 Toronto 4,046 3%

6 Guatemala City 3,938 3%

7 Mexico City 3,374 3%

8 San Jose, CR 2,869 2%

9 Beijing 2,841 2%

10 Montego Bay 2,799 2%

11 Vancouver 2,682 2%

12 Tel Aviv 2,662 2%

13 Amsterdam 2,599 2%

14 Rome 2,363 2%

15 Bombay 2,246 2%

16 Amman 2,172 2%

17 Dublin 2,090 2%

18 Sao Paulo 2,049 2%

19 Dubai 1,902 2%

20 Nassau 1,836 1%

21 Punta Cana 1,792 1%

22 Johannesburg 1,631 1%

23 Zurich 1,557 1%

24 Copenhagen 1,513 1%

25 Madrid 1,397 1%

Subtotal 71,843 58%

All Others 52,214 42%

Total 124,057 100%

Charlottesville Catchment Area Passengers using CHO

CHO is one of six primary commercial service airports that serve the Charlottesville Catchment Area. 

CHO is in direct competition with Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH), Richmond International Airport 

(RIC), Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and 
12

Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA).10 While CHO is the closest airport for passengers within 

the Charlottesville Catchment Area, the lack of nonstop service choices and the abundance of service 

choices available from nearby airports results in more passengers using the competing airports than those 

using CHO. As shown in Exhibit 11, for the 875,000 domestic passengers, the preferred origin from the 

Charlottesville Catchment Area were CHO with 44%, RIC with 24%, IAD with 20%, DCA with 7.5%, 

and SHD with 3%. The other airports serving the Charlottesville Catchment Area captured 1.4% of the 

passengers. IAD, RIC, and DCA each lie within a two hour11 drive from the City of Charlottesville and, 

with their more extensive service options, not to mention low cost carrier service, collectively captured 

nearly 60% of the Charlottesville Catchment Area traffic.

Exhibit 11:

Charlottesville Service Area Domestic and International Passengers by Airport

 Domestic Passengers = 874,622 International Passengers = 124, 507

The Charlottesville Catchment Area’s international travel market is less fragmented across the six 

airports. As shown in Exhibit 11 above, 75% of the 124,507 Charlottesville Catchment Area’s 

international passengers used CHO or IAD. CHO and IAD accounted for 26% and 49% of the outbound 

international traffic, respectively, illustrating the high amount of leakage CHO experiences for 

international itineraries.

 

10 Shenandoah-Staunton airport (SHD) lies within the primary service area but currently offers more limited service and draws 

barely 1% of the catchment area traffic.

11 Source: Google Maps.
13

External Industry Events Impacting CHO

The majority of commercial airline departures in the U.S. aviation industry are operated by regional 

partners using regional aircraft seating from 19-100 seats. Changing laws and regulations in the U.S. are 

leading to a shortage of airline pilots, especially with the regional airlines. At the same time, rising fuel 

costs are making smaller regional aircraft uneconomical for airlines to operate. Major airlines and their 

regional affiliates are retiring numerous smaller regional aircraft and upgauging their fleet in general. As 

a result, many communities either are experiencing or will experience a reduction or cessation of flights.

With the cost of fuel climbing, network carriers have found that smaller regional aircraft are not as 

profitable. Fuel’s climb has driven network airlines and/or regional operators to invest in larger regional 

aircraft. Whereas in 2003, equipment of 50 seats or less comprised nearly 90 percent of all regional 

departures performed in the U.S., today that percentage is less than 70 percent (see Exhibit 12). The 

trend toward flying larger aircraft is highlighted here by the flying being done by aircraft 70 seats and 

larger. This movement towards larger regional aircraft with better seat economics will not reverse itself, 

regardless of jet fuel prices.

Exhibit 12:

Separate from fuel issues, a pilot shortage is present in the regional sector. The Big 4 US carriers (AA, 

DL, UA and WN) will need to replace more than 16,000 pilots who will be required to retire between 

now and 2022. Recent federal legislation requiring new pilots being granted an ATP license has been 

increased from 250 hours to 1,500 hours. In addition, new regulations increasing the number of hours 

rest for crews require airlines to hire more pilots at a time when the pipeline of eligible pilots is shrinking. 

The regional sector of the business will be the most impacted as it pays its pilots less.
14

3 CHO Air Service Development Efforts

Because of high fares, significant traffic leakage, poor service quality in terms of equipment types, and 

events outside of CHO’s control (fuel costs and pilot shortage), CHO has been quite aggressive in 

pursuing and maintaining air service. 

The Airport has actively participated in the annual ACI-NA JumpStart event for quite some. In addition, 

the Airport keeps in regular contact with airlines via e-mail and phone communications as well as 

regularly visiting airlines headquarters to develop relationships, express operational issues, and lobby for 

new or expanded service. In the last year, CHO has met with United in Chicago and Delta in Atlanta. 

Besides in-person meetings, the Airport maintains at a minimum quarterly communications with both 

incumbent and potential new entrant carriers. The Airport regularly works with air service consultants to 

study its air service market and identify opportunities for air service improvements, including an updated 

leakage study completed this past June, 2014.

Our hard work and total community effort have been rewarded with some new services and new capacity 

in the marketplace:

 In 2011, with the help of a SCASD grant, CHO brought in new, twice daily ORD-CHO 

service with 44-seat Embraer RJs; AA has recently upgauged this to 50-seat CRJs.

 In 2013, Allegiant Air added twice weekly service between CHO and Orlando Sanford with a 

166-seat MD80.

 In April, 2014, AA added once daily, CHO-LGA service with a 44-seat Embraer RJ.

 In September, 2014, DL plans to upgauge one daily flight to ATL to a 110-seat Boeing 717.

Our efforts have not been without setbacks. After working for years to attract Allegiant to our market to 

offer low fare service to Florida, we achieved that goal last winter. Unfortunately, Allegiant discontinued 

service after only three months of operations, citing the need to re-deploy aircraft to other needs in their 

system.

With recent history showing new routes added and enplanements increasing, it would be easy to rest on 

our laurels and sit back and watch traffic continue to grow; however, that is not the reality in this industry. 

In light of industry events in the regional airline industry with an acute shortage of pilots, fuel, etc., and 

with Allegiant’s entry and exit from our market, CHO has become keenly aware of the need to maintain 

the destinations, frequencies, and capacity that we have with our air service, and as a result, we are 

seeking this SCASD grant for marketing funds to promote these existing services, encouraging local 

travelers to fly locally and hopefully improving the profitability of these flights to insure that our airline 

partners keep this capacity in CHO and possibly grow it as well.

4 Difference from Previous SCASD Grants

While CHO has been fortunate in receiving two SCASD grants over the past 11 years, this current 

application is in no way related to either of the two previous efforts.

In 2003 and again in 2010, Charlottesville was awarded grant money from this same program to secure 

and/or improve new regional service. In 2003, CHO sought to replace existing turboprop service between 

CHO and Charlotte with regional jet service. In 2010, in the wake of NW/DL pulling out of the DetroitCHO market, CHO wanted to add new service to another airline hub to facilitate east-west flow traffic. In 
15

addition, Chicago was the largest unserved market out of CHO at that time. Both applications were 

approved, and the ensuing efforts of the airport and the community resulted in enhanced service with 

regional jets to US’ CLT hub and new, twice-daily RJ service between CHO and Chicago’s O’Hare 

airport on AA.

In this current application for a grant, we are not looking to add new service, we want to keep our 

passengers flying out of CHO to support and maintain the service that we have.

5 MARKETING PLAN (to meet Air Service Needs)

If awarded a SCASD grant, CHO Airport will immediately implement a comprehensive 24 month “Your 

Airport” marketing plan. Some preliminary details of the plan are included. The final Marketing plan 

will be approved by all partners and include the total spend of $347,870. We expect that the value offered 

from our select partnership will in fact be much higher.

(January 2015 – December 2016) “Your CHO Airport” Campaign Plan Created by Local Creative Firm

 A strategic marketing plan will be created that will concentrate on raising awareness of each 

airline serving CHO and the connectivity to each destination. The goal of the plan will be to 

increase top of mind awareness throughout the first 12 months and maintain that awareness 

into the second 12 months. A Unique “Your CHO Airport” logo will be created to support all 

advertising efforts.

(January 2015 – December 2016) “Your CHO Airport” Radio Campaign to create top of mind 

awareness

The Charlottesville Radio Group 

 30 weekly commercials on 5 of the largest radio stations in the region. (150 commercials 

total)

 “Your CHO Airport” Logo, link on each website

 Matching schedule on www.wina.com, www.3wv.com, www.1061thecorner.com

 Schedule to air 6 weeks between January-March 2015 and January-March 2016

News Radio 1070 WINA

 11 campaign weeks to air between April-December 2015 and April-December 2016

 12 commercials per week

97.5 3WV

 27 commercials to air per flight week

 11 total flight weeks, April-December 2015 and April-December 2016

Freedom Tour – command audience attention and response during this 10 week promotion, covering 

WWWV’s unparalleled 50-thousand watt footprint! We will bring CHO Airport to the people during 

peak months (May-July 2015 and 2016). The Your CHO Airport promotion will be center-stage during 

97.5 3WV’s Road Trip reaching Central Virginia’s TOP 25-54 audience. 

 Live Appearance Thursday afternoons with an on-air personality, full broadcast set up with 

room for sponsor displays and special offers.
16

 50 limited edition tour t-shirts with the CHO logo incorporated in the design, distributed at 

each Tour Stop!

 Customized contest or register-to-win opportunity each week to drive traffic and keep 

excitement levels up!

NFL U Pick ‘Em – CHO Airport will engage NFL Fans in a weekly contest that raises the stakes of 

virtually every NFL match-up all season long. The idea is to promote all of CHO Airport’s direct 

connections as they relate to NFL teams (Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago etc.)

 Top sponsor credit in over 200 office pool promos, email blasts, and social media...and 

sponsorship of ESPN’s NFL Sundays

 Premiere logo placement on the www.3WV.com contest page, and 300x 250 web ad with link 

adjacent to contest page

Lite Rock Z95.1

 27 commercials to air per flight week

 11 total flight weeks, April-December 2015 and April-December 2016

95 Days of Summer - This summer-long campaign provides CHO with a unique platform to capitalize on 

key summer spending, introduce new customers to CHO; create a specific link between listeners and the 

CHO brand. Summer of 2015 and 2016

 Sponsor credit in 95 Days of Summer updates, events and giveaways. Each local partner 

received equal rotation in all live/recorded promos from Memorial Day through Labor Day

 Listing and link on the www.literockz951.com 95 Days of Summer page

106.1 The Corner

 27 commercials to air per flight week

 11 total flight weeks, April-December 2015 and April-December 2016

Fall Reunion – Connect with thousands of Charlottesville’s most thoughtful residents and guests of the 

University. Autumn in Charlottesville...for locals, it means festivals and football, craft breweries and VA 

Wineries, dining IN and dining OUT. 106.1 The Corner listeners are going to do their shopping 

somewhere...make them think CHO first!

 Receive shared sponsor credits in specially-created Corner messages every week identifying 

your business as our partner.

 Tie CHO directly to Central Virginia’s most vibrant, growing radio station!

January 2015 – December 2016) “Your CHO Airport” Television Campaign to create top of mind 

awareness

Phase 1 Introducing “Your CHO Airport” Local CBS, ABC, and FOX Affiliates

 Duration: 26 weeks

 Spots Per Week: 24 spots per week:

 WCAV-CBS19: 8 per week (104 total spots) WVAW-ABC16: 8 per week (104 total spots) 

 WAHU‐ FOX27: 8 per week (104 total spots)

 Total Campaign Reach %: 82% of TV Households

 Total Campaign Reach #: 61,898 Households

 Total Campaign Frequency: 10.2 times per viewer
17

“Your Airport” P r om oti on Maintenance Schedule Local CBS, ABC, and FOX Affiliates

 Duration: 39 Weeks

 Spots Per Week: 16 spots per week

 WCAV-CBS19: 6perweek(234 totalspots)

 WVAW-ABC16: 5 perweek(195 totalspots)

 WAHU-FOX27: 5 perweek (195 totalspots)

 Total Campaign Reach %: 98% of TV Households

 Total Campaign Reach #: 74,720 Households

 Total Campaign Frequency: 11.4 times per viewer

24 spots per week (to air between 5am – 1am) 8 per week (104 total spots) 8 per week

(104 total spots) 8 per week (104 total spots)

“Your Airport”-Promotion Maintenance Schedule NBC29 Duration: 52 Weeks

 550 Total Spots 

 Total Campaign Reach 97.9% of Persons 35-64 

 Total Campaign Reach #: 2,545,200 Adult Impressions

 Total Campaign Frequency: 11.4 times per viewer(January 2015 – December 2016) 

“Go CHO to Chicago” University of Virginia Sports Properties/ Your CHO Airport 

Campaign to Re-Introduce & Maintain CHO Service

Football Signage – Scott Stadium: LED Panel Scoreboard Wings 

 CHO’s logo and brand identity will appear on both video scoreboard LED panels (26’ x 

12.5”) exclusively for one-half (1/2) quarter during all home football games throughout 

the season (7 games)

 CHO will receive approximately ten (10) minutes of brand exposure per game

 UVA football drew over 370,000 attendees in 2013 

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Signage – John Paul Jones Arena: Fascia LEDs

 CHO will receive three (3) minutes per game of branded messages on LED fascia 

boards (Men’s and Women’s basketball)

 Fascia LEDs include lower in-bowl branding presence on “horseshoe” LED fascia, east 

end-line LED fascia, and upper/lower scoreboard “rings”

 Men’s basketball was the 2013-2014 ACC regular season and tournament champions 

before advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament 

 Men’s and Women’s basketball hosted over 250,000 fans in 2013-2014

Men’s Basketball Radio - Pre-game radio spot

 CHO will receive one (1) :30 second pre-game radio spot per Men’s basketball 

broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network (approximately 30 broadcasts)

 The Virginia Sports Radio Network reaches statewide through stations across the 

Commonwealth of Virginia

Digital – Web Impressions

 CHO will receive 750,000 web impressions on VirginiaSports.com, the official website 

of The University of Virginia Athletics
18

 Ad impressions may be geo-targeted to run exclusively for site visitors from specific zip 

codes

 VirginiaSports.com receives over 2 million hits per month and over 300,000 unique 

visitors per month

(January 2015 – December 2016)) University of Virginia (UVA) Alumni Association/” Your CHO 

Airport Campaign” to re-Introduce & maintain CHO service 

CHO will partner with UVA Alumni Association to engage alumni and their families during home 

football games for the 2015 & 2016 Seasons

 CHO Airport will receive (4) 1/3 page ads in an issue of the Virginia Magazine mailed 

to approximately 200,000 people including alumni, faculty and parents of current 

students (electronic version of the Virginia Magazine sent to approximately 20,000 

undergraduate and graduate students)

 “Your CHO Airport” Logo included in the Alumni Association’s Football Weekends 

1/3 page ad 

 Homecomings full page ad in the Fall issue of the Virginia Magazine mailed to 

approximately 200,000 people including alumni, faculty and current students 

(electronic version of the Virginia Magazine sent to approximately 20,000 

undergraduate and graduate students)

 “Your CHO Airport” in GameTime! ad, a local game day publication distributed to 

4,000 people per game throughout the Corner and stadium areas

 “Your CHO Airport” in Cville Best of Issue distributed to 27,000 people per year

 “Your CHO Airport” included in Football Weekends full page ad in the Cavalier 

Corner magazine

Online and Web Advertising:

 Advertising banner placement in all Football Weekend at Alumni Hall e-newsletters

 “Your CHO Airport” and link included in at least 10 emails sent to approximately 

64,000 alumni regarding football tailgates

 “Your CHO Airport” and link included on the Football Weekends at Alumni Hall web 

page www.uvafootballweekends.com

Other Communications and Day-of Marketing:

 Inclusion of CHO-Mobile (interactive airport marketing vehicle) and 10’ x 10’ CHO 

tent at Alumni Hall for 6 of the 8 home football tailgates

 Name included in weekly promotional radio commercials leading up to the game airing 

on 3WV and WINA

 Premier logo placement of banner (supplied by sponsor) in front of Alumni Hall on 

game day

 “Your CHO Airport” included on Alumni Hall roadside advertising

 Recognition by performing band/DJ in game day announcements

 “Your CHO Airport” on t-shirts passed out at tailgates

 “Your CHO Airport” printed on handle of promotional items passed out at tailgates

 Promotional Table at tailgate to promote airport amenities

(January 2015 – December 2016) “Your CHO Airport” / Chamber Event Campaign to Re-introduce & 

Maintain CHO Service
19

CHO Airport will select the most popular events in the surrounding counties to participate with an 

interactive airport display. The use of the CHO Marketing vehicle as well as experiential displays will 

promote each of the airlines and the connections offered through CHO Airport to approximately 25,000 

people.

• Inclusion of CHO-Mobile (interactive airport marketing vehicle) and 10’ x 10’ CHO tent 

at each selected chamber event.

• Premier logo placement of banner (supplied by sponsor) at each chamber event.

(January 2015 – December 2016) “Your CHO Airport” / Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and 

Visitors Bureau (CACVB) Campaign to Introduce CHO Airport Service / Central Virginia to selected 

destination markets. Build and sustain consistent awareness of Charlottesville and Albemarle County as a 

one stop year-round premier vacation destination through specifically targeted marketing efforts. This 

includes the implementation of the Charlottesville/Albemarle brand and the focus on select Cities that 

have LGA service, and are a “one-stop trip away” from Charlottesville, Virginia. Continue supporting all 

cooperative efforts with the CHO Airport marketing team to leverage these newly acquired grant funds. 

 Host a Charlottesville day in selected communities to coordinate with selected VIP’s and travel 

writers.

 Showcase Charlottesville / Albemarle as the gateway to some of the east coast’s premier 

wineries.

 Showcase Charlottesville / Albemarle to select tour operators/travel agents as the entry and exit 

point for their city.

 Showcase Charlottesville / Albemarle to “one-stop” city group tour operators as a key destination 

in their tour bus itineraries.

 Showcase Charlottesville / Albemarle to travel media in select feeder markets as an easily 

accessibly destination from their cities.

 Implement targeted Facebook advertisements promoting Charlottesville / Albemarle to select 

markets having direct flight available from their location.

 Work with Destination Travel Network (CACVB’s online advertising component) to feature 

advertisements on visitcharlottesville.org. 

6 A Well Developed Public-Private Partnership (including 

Funding required to implement Marketing Plan)

A key part of the Marketing Plan is the formation of a public-private partnership between the 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority (Authority), owner of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 

and twenty-one other organizations for the purpose of pursuing this grant award and keeping and 

improving the air service that we have today at CHO. The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of 

Commerce will assist in the grant administration and oversee the marketing efforts on behalf of the 

community participants. A list of the organizations that have agreed to participate follows as well as their 

contributions which serve as the funding source for the local component of our Market Plan:
20

Need to Terminate Existing Grants: There will be no need to terminate existing grants as none are open 

for CHO. 

7 Legal Sponsor

Penny Shifflett is the legal sponsor for this project. Ms. Shifflett will be responsible for the 

administration of the grant. The Contact information for the legal sponsor is Penny Shifflett, 

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Director of Finance and Administration, Charlottesville, VA 22911, 

434-973-8342 ext. 113; PShifflett@gocho.com

FUNDING SOURCES 

$$ in kind Total 

Albemarle County $ 500.00 $ 500.00

CACVB $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00

Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00

Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce $ 4,500.00 $ 4,500.00

City of Charlottesville $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00

Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce letter only

Cville Radio Group $ 35,000.00 $ 35,000.00

Fluvanna County Chamber of Commerce $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00

Forward Adelante $ 13,600.00 $ 13,600.00

Greene County Chamber of Commerce $ 500.00 $ 500.00

Greene County Economic Development & Tourism $ 500.00 $ 500.00 $ 1,000.00

Lousia County Chamber of Commerce letter only

Madison County Chamber of Commerce letter only

NBC 29 $ 25,000.00 $ 25,000.00

Nelson County Chamber of Commerce $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00

Newsplex $ 2,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 22,000.00

Okay Yellow $ 500.00 $ 1,500.00 $ 2,000.00

UVA Alumni $ 1,000.00 $ 7,520.00 $ 8,520.00

UVA Sports Properties $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 15,000.00

Virginia Film Festival letter only

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities letter only

CHO $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00

Total: $ 25,250.00 $ 123,870.00 $ 149,120.00

Total requested from DOT SCASD Grant: $ 200,000.00

Total Public-Private Partnership Fund: $ 349,120.00
SCASDP Grant Application 2014

Public/Private Partnership Fund

$$ in kind Total 

Albemarle County $ 500.00 $ 500.00

CACVB $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00

Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00

Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce $ 4,500.00 $ 4,500.00

City of Charlottesville $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00

Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce letter only

Cville Radio Group $ 35,000.00 $ 35,000.00

Fluvanna County Chamber of Commerce $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00

Forward Adelante $ 13,600.00 $ 13,600.00

Greene County Chamber of Commerce $ 500.00 $ 500.00

Greene County Economic Development & Tourism $ 500.00 $ 500.00 $ 1,000.00

Lousia County Chamber of Commerce letter only

Madison County Chamber of Commerce letter only

NBC 29 $ 25,000.00 $ 25,000.00

Nelson County Chamber of Commerce $ 250.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00

Newsplex $ 2,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 22,000.00

Okay Yellow $ 500.00 $ 1,500.00 $ 2,000.00

UVA Alumni $ 1,000.00 $ 7,520.00 $ 8,520.00

UVA Sports Properties $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 15,000.00

Virginia Film Festival letter only

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities letter only

CHO $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00

Total: $ 25,250.00 $ 123,870.00 $ 149,120.00

Total requested from DOT SCASD Grant: $ 200,000.00

Total Public-Private Partnership Fund: $ 349,120.00



For more than a century “... dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting business

and enhancing the quality of life in our Greater Charlottesville communities.”

cvillechamber.com • 209 Fifth Street, NE • Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

July 23, 2014

RE: Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority

Federal Small Community Air Service Development Grant Program

Community Partner – Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce

Dear Mr. Secretary:

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce as always, is pleased to support the 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority’s (CHO) $200,000 grant application to the United States

Department of Transportation’s Small Communiity Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). 

Our Airport’s grant application highlights the need in today’s highly competitive world to both, 

attract new air service, as well as to retain and improve the new and existing air service. The 

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority is dilligent in attracting new and expanded air service to CHO, 

but economic and industry events outside its control, adversely impact CHO’s hard work and successes. 

The availability of quality commercial air service has a powerful impact on our region’s economy through 

improved access for our area’s globally-competitive enterprises; thousands of business visitors and even 

greater numbers of tourists; two critically important US defense intellegence agencies and associated 

defense intellegence enterprises; one of the nation’s leading universities; and, other civic organizations

and institutions. 

For more than a century our Chamber is dedicated to representing private enterprise, promoting 

business and enhancing the quality of life in our Greater Charlottesville communities. Founded in 1913, 

today the Chamber has more than 1,200 member & affiliate member enterprises together employing

more than 45,000 men and women, representing an estimated total payroll of more than $1.75 billion a 

year.

Our Chamber helped give birth to the Airport. In 1947, after surveying, researching, and 

investigating an “ideal location” for a Charlottesville Airport, the Chamber came to a conclusion with a 

report sponsoring a location for the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport. The Chamber Board of Directors 

then sent the report to the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County for “implementation.” The 

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport opened in 1955, after several years of regulatory approvals at that very 

same “ideal location” identified by the Chamber in 1947. Ours is an enduring 67-year “public-private” 
partnership that has helped to build and maintain our Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport as a signature 

regional transportation facility in our Greater Charlottesville region. 

Our airport is a key portal into our community and a link to our nation and the world. Each year 

more than 460,000 people take off from or land at our airport, representing aggregate airport revenues of 

more than $4.3 million. The continued sustenance and progress of “CHO” as a safer, more efficient and 

increasingly affordable transportation artery remains essential to the economic vitality of our region. 

- 2 -

As you know well, our national air transportation industry continues to work through difficult 

economic challenges. Throughout these challenges, in Charlottesville, the Airport Authority and its 

management team enjoy our Chamber’s and community’s confidence and support. With this in mind, our 

Chamber is pleased to participate in this program to help increase air service into our region. By 

incorporating the use of our effective direct Chamber business communications in your air travel 

promotions, this partnership will help insure that a broad range of business, university and community 

leaders – and travelers – will avail themselves of more frequent air travel.

As one of the Authority’s community partners, our Chamber will provide in-kind programmatic 

communications and other strategic and administrative support and assistance to this initiative. We 

estimate the in-kind value of these items to be in excess of $4,500. Where small community air service 

initiatives are concerned, it is partnerships such as ours that can help make the difference between having 

sound, efficient, improving air services or not. We have every confidence that the CHO program will have 

the full support of our Chamber and its member enterprisses and the Central Virginia business

community. Again, our Charlottesville Regional Chamber is pleased to join the Charlottesville-Albemarle 

Airport Authority as a community partner in this Federal Small Community Air Service Development Grant 

Program initiative.

Mr. Secretary, our Chamber urges your favorable consideration of the Charlottesville – Albemarle 

Airport Authority’s grant application and we look forward to a successful renewed partnership in building 

air travel for our region.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Timothy Hulbert, IOM

Chamber President

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

Office of the Secretary

United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

cc: The Chamber Board of Directors

The Honorable Timothy Kaine, United States Senate

The Honorable Mark Warner, United States Senate

The Honorable Robert Hurt, United States House of Representatives
July 28, 2014

Dear Melinda, Jason, or Secretary Foxx

I am pleased to submit this letter of support for the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport’s (CHO) 

grant application to the U.S. Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development 

Program (SCASDP). CHO’s grant application highlights the potential of their public-private 

partnership initiative to help market and retain our local air services and describes a number of 

new and expanded services that CHO has developed in recent years. The availability of quality 

commercial air service has a profound impact on the region’s economy through improved 

access for visits, but equally important, such quality air service supports the needs of area 

businesses and organizations, like the Virginia Film Festival (VFF) now celebrating its 27th year 

as a major program of the University of Virginia and a major cultural destination event for our 

region of Central Virginia.

Towards this end, I want to assure you that the VFF fully supports CHO’s marketing efforts to 

promote air services in destination markets and to keep Central Virginians flying locally by using 

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport. I am committed to working with CHO on an in-kind 

partnership that utilizes the wide reach of the VFF to promote CHO’s initiatives to our non-local 

and local prospective audiences. If there is anything else I or the VFF can do to assist you with 

this endeavor, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Thanks for your efforts to maintain our level of air service that benefits the VFF and our 

community so broadly. I feel certain that you will be successful in getting the grant from the 

government and support from our greater Charlottesville community.

Sincerely,

Jody Kielbasa, Director

July 24, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

I am writing this letter of support on behalf of The University of Virginia and 

it’s official marketing arm, Virginia Sports Properties. We are pleased to 

submit this letter of support of the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport 

Authority’s (CHO) application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 

Small Communiity Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). The 

Airport’s grant application is one of the highest priorities in keeping 

Charlottesville and the central Virginia region on the leading edge serving 

citizens who choose to fly into and out of this market. 

The CHO’s great work has been instrumental in attracting and retaining 

best in class aviation partners and provides service to the community at a 

level that is unmatched. As someone who represents a world class 

university on a daily basis I can tell you that the work that Charlottesville

and the Airport Authority has done is at risk if they don’t continue with 

their strategic plan of growing their commercial footprint and providing 

excellent customer service. Telling the CHO story in creative platforms 

such as the ones Virginia Sports Properties provides enables our partners to 
drive business and leisure travel to one of the hidden gems in the region. 

We will have well over a million visitors to the UVA grounds just to attend 

sporting events in the next calendar year. The amount of support we 

receive directly and indirectly from the the CHO makes the investment 

work for us in terms of dollar commitments as well as value in kind 

donations to make CHO’s marketing budget significantly more efficient. 

I can tell you for certain that this “public-private” partnership that has been 

developed between CHO and Virginia Sports Properties for the purpose of 

supporting our local CHO air services by marketing them more broadly we 

are fortunate to have a reputiation as an outstanding Universiy and work 

hard everyday to keep that standard high both on the sporting fields and in 

the classroom. 

I have spoken to other leaders at the University of Virginia and in the 

community at large and I have every confidence that this program will have 

the full support of the Greater Charlottesville region and beyond. CHO has 

a record of success. I respectfully submit to you that should you decide to 

fund CHO’s application, we have every confidence that the programs we 

will be supporting with shine as an example of a true “Public / Private” 

venture that works.

Warmest Personal Regards,

Pat

Patrick Wood

General Manager

Virginia Sports Properties

University of Virginia Athletics

1815 Stadium Road

Charlottesville, VA 22903
July 24, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

Virginia Sports Properties, The University of Virginia’s official marketing 

arm, would also like to extend our financial support of Charlottesville 

Albemarle Airport Authority’s (CHO) application to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(SCASDP). The total contribution will include $5,000 in cash and $10,000 in 

kind for a total of $15,000 of cash and in kind support. 

We are fully confident that this support will go to great use as CHO 

continues to grow their brand and in turn, the city of Charlottesville, its 

surrouding counties, and its partners.

Warmest Personal Regards,

Pat

Patrick Wood

General Manager

Virginia Sports Properties

University of Virginia Athletics

1815 Stadium Road

Charlottesville, VA 22903

 NELSON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P. O. Box 182 Lovingston, VA 22949

July 24, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

I am pleased to submit this letter of support on behalf of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 

Authority’s (CHO) application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Communiity Air 

Service Development Program (SCASDP). The Airport’s grant application highlights the need 

in today’s aviation world to attract new service as well as to retain existing services.

Charlottesville has done an exemplary job in attracting new and expanded air service to CHO, 

but numerous industry events outside its control imperil CHO’s hard work and associated 

successes. The availability of quality, commercial air service has a profound impact on the 

region’s economy through improved access for visitors but equally important, supports the 

needs of area businesses, organizations, and educational institutions. 

In return, as a partner with CHO, this letter is a commitment on behalf of Nelson County 

Chamber of Commerce to contribute $250 to invest in the marketing efforts associated with 

this grant. In addition, we will contribute at least $250 worth of in-kind donations or 

promotions. 

I want to assure you that the “public-private” partnership that has been developed between 

CHO and the Nelson County Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of supporting our local 

CHO air services by marketing them more broadly will have our full support. Where small 

community air service initiatives are concerned, it is partnerships like ours that can make the 

difference between having these services and losing them. We have every confidence that the 

program will have the full support of the Central Virginia business community.

Sincerely,

Julia W. Rogers, CPA

President, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Cc: Elaine Hooker, Secretary
P.O. Box 769 An NBC Affiliate

503 East Market Street

Charlottesville, VA 22902

434-220-2900

Fax: 434 220-2904

WVIR-TV

CHARLOTTESVILLE

July 22, 2014

Dear Jason:

Thanks for your letter of July 18, 2014 noting the possibility of a public-private partnership 

initiative between the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, local businesses, and the U.S. 

Department of Transportation. The people of the Charlottesville-Albemarle area have

been highly supportive of the positive changes in the new and expanded services at the 

airport over the past several years. Hopefully, a partnership between the three parties, 

the Airport, local business and the Department of Transportation, can yield exciting new 

developments in local air transportation.

In order to help meet that end, NBC29, CW29, 29WeatherPlus and nbc29.com would like 

to contribute over $25,000 of advertising. The marketing effort runs across all of our 

networks, and the web. We’ll also provide substantial direct mail support. We feel our 

commanding share of audience will provide a very strong support in the multi counties the 

airport serves. You folks have done a terrific job at getting Central Virginians flying locally

out of the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.

Once again, thanks for what you’ve done to bring an expanding level of air service to 

Central Virginia. I trust the grant will go through, and that we, at NBC29, CW29, 

29WeatherPlus, and nbc29.com can help develop many exciting, new possibilities to local 

air travel.

Sincerely, 

Pete Osborne

Senior Account Executive
MADISON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

110A N Main Street

Madison, VA 22727

540-948-4455

http://www.madison-va.com

July 21, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

I am pleased to submit this letter of support on behalf of the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority’s 

(CHO) application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Communiity Air Service Development 

Program (SCASDP). The Airport’s grant application highlights the need in today’s aviation world to not 

only attract new service, which we have, but equally as important, to retain that service. Charlottesville 

has done an exemplary job in attraciting new and expanded air service to CHO, but numerous industry 

events outside its control imperil CHO’s hard work and associated successes. The availability of quality, 

commercial air service has a profound impact on the region’s economy through improved access for 

visitors but equally important, supports the needsof area business, organizations, and educational 

institutions. 

I want to assure you that the “public-private” partnership that has been developed between CHO and the 

Madison County Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of supporting our local CHO air services by 

marketing them more broadly will have our full support. Where small community air service initiatives 

are concerned, it is partnerships like ours that can make the difference between having these services and 

losing them. We have every confidence that the program will have the full support of the Central Virginia 

business community.

Sincerely,

Tracey Gardner, Executive Director & Tourism Coordinator

Greene County Economic Development & Tourism

Greene County Visitor Center

8315 Seminole Trail, Suite 2 

Ruckersville, VA 22968

Phone: (434) 985-6663 www.gatewaytocharlottesville.com Fax: (877) 335-9993

July 21, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

On behalf of Greene County Economic & Tourism, please accept this letter in full 

support of the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority’s (CHO) application to the 

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Communiity Air Service Development 

Program (SCASDP). As Green’s director I applaud the Airport’s grant application to 

attact new service and to retain the current service for our community. The quality, 

commercial air service that CHO provids has a significant impact on the region’s 

economy. As a cooperative partner in economic development and tourism, the Airport is 

considered vital to our future growth. 

In return, as a partner with CHO, this letter is a commitment on behalf of Greene’s 

Economic Development and Tourism department to contribute $500 to invest in the 

marketing efforts associated with this grant. In addition, we will contribute $500 worth 

of in-kind donations/promotions. 

I hope you value the service that the airport provides our community as much as we do. 

We feel this grant will help to insure the future vitaligy of air service to the entire central 

Virginia area. Please let me know if we as a key stake holder can do more to see the 

continued success of Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority.

Most Sincerely,

Alan E. Yost

Director
P.O. Box 643, Ruckersville, VA 22968 / 434-906-4859

July 22, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

I am pleased to submit this letter of support on behalf of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 

Authority’s (CHO) application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Communiity Air Service 

Development Program (SCASDP). The Airport’s grant application highlights the need in today’s aviation 

world to not only attract new service, which we have, but equally as important, to retain that service. 

Charlottesville has done an exemplary job in attracting new and expanded air service to CHO, but 

numerous industry events outside its control imperil CHO’s hard work and associated successes. The 

availability of quality, commercial air service has a profound impact on the region’s economy through 

improved access for visitors but equally important, supports the needsof area business, organizations, 

and educational institutions. 

I want to assure you that the “public-private” partnership that has been developed between CHO and 

the Greene County Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of supporting our local CHO air services by 

marketing them more broadly will have our full support. Where small community air service initiatives 

are concerned, it is partnerships like ours that can make the difference between having these services 

and losing them. Towards this end, Greene County Chamber of Commerce would be pleased to 

contribute $500.00.

We have every confidence that the program will have the full support of the Central Virginia business 

community.
July 25, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Deparment of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville, VA

Dear Mr. Foxx:

Representing our diverse business community, I am pleased to submit this letter 

of support on behalf of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Authority’s (CHO) 

application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Communiity Air 

Service Development Program (SCASDP). The Airport’s grant application 

highlights the need in today’s aviation world to not only attract new service, which 

we have, but equally as important, to retain that service. Charlottesville has done 

an exemplary job in attracting and providing services to Forward/Adelante 

Business Alliance (FABA) members, a diverse and upwardly mobile crosssection of the Greager Charlottesville area. Likewise, the availability of quality, 

commercial air service has a profound impact on the region’s general economy.

In return, as a partner with CHO, this letter is a commitment on behalf of FABA to 

contribute $8400 toward the marketing efforts associated with this grant to 

provide comprehensive promotions in our quarterly business magazine. In 

addition, we will contribute $5200 worth of in-kind donations/promotions to 

highlight the airlines during each of our Signature business events. 

We are committed to fully support our local CHO air services through our “publicprivate” partnership that has been developed between CHO and 

Forward/Adelante Business Alliance during the years for the purpose of 

supporting our local airport. 

Sincerely,

 

Olga Alcaide-Morse

Executive Director 

Forward/Adelante Business Alliance

www.forwardvirginia.com




Virginia Foundation for the Humanities 145 Ednam Dr. ,Charlottesville, VA 22904 

The Honorable Anthony Foxx

Secretary of Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20590

July 24, 2014

Re: U.S. DOT Small Community Air Service Development Program

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Charlottesville VA

Dear Mr. Foxx,

I am pleased to write in support of the Charlottesville Airport Authority’s 

(CHO) application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community 

Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). CHO’s grant application 

demonstrates the need for regional airports, of which CHO is an outstanding 

example, to attract and retain new service. Quality commercial air service is a

fundamental component of a healthy regional economy, and a thriving airport 

such as CHO provides necessary services to Charlottesville-area businesses, 

educational institutions, and cultural organizations alike.

From my perspective as Program Director of the Virginia Festival of the Book, 

the availability of a good local airport is, without question, essential to the 

ongoing success of the Book Festival. Authors, publishers, and visitors all 

consider air service as an important factor when they elect to make the trip to 

Charlottesville and take part in our annual Festival.

Please be assured that the partnership between the Virginia Festival of the 

Book, its parent organization, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and 

CHO is intended to be enduring, rather than simply serve the singular purpose 

of a marketing initiative. We are delighted to collaborate with CHO, and are 

eager to build a partnership with the airport to create ongoing, communitybased initiatives. If awarded the grant in question, CHO’s work will 

undoubtedly have a significant and lasting impact on the Greater 

Charlottesville and Central Virginia communities. 

Sincerely,

Jane B. Kulow

Program Director, Virginia Festival of the Book

Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board

Walter Rugaber

Meadows of Dan, VA

Stephen K. Adkins

Charles City, VA 

Carolyn Bell

Lynchburg, VA

Bob Blue

Richmond, VA 

Robert H. Brink

Arlington, VA

Scott Colley

Keswick, VA

Theodore DeLaney

Lexington, VA 

William Freehling

Fredericksburg, VA

Barbara J. Fried

Crozet, VA 

Joanne Gabbin

Harrisonburg, VA 

Oliver Hill, Jr.

Petersburg, VA

W. Tucker Lemon

Roanoke, VA

B. Thomas Mansbach

Washington, DC 

Maurie D. McInnis

Charlottesville, VA

Edward Mullen

Richmond, VA

Michelle DuPont Olson

McLean, VA

Daphne Maxwell Reid

Petersburg, VA

Rita Roy

Reston, VA

Martha J. Sims

Virginia Beach, VA

Dennis Treacy

Smithfield, VA

Emma Violand-Sanchez

Arlington, VA

Peter Wallenstein

Blacksburg, VA 

Lacy Ward, Jr.

Prospect, VA 

Robert C. Vaughan, III

VFH President
Letter of Financial Support

July 28, 2014

Dear Jason Burch,

Thank you for your contacting me about the potential public-private partnership initiative to 

help market and retain our local air services at Charlottesville-Albemarler Airport. Our community’s hard work has resulted in a number of new and expanded services in recent years, and with 

the ongoing changes in the airline world, we don’t want to return to the status quo of years past.

Towards this end, Okay Yellow would be pleased to contribute $500 cash and $1,500 in kind 

marketing planning services, graphic design, and video production services to support broad 

marketing eorts to promote local air services and keep Central Virginians ying locally by using 

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport. If there is anyting else I or our company can do to assist you 

with this endeavor, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Thanks for your eorts to maintain our level of air service that benets our company and our 

community so broadly. I feel certain that you will be succesful in getting the grant from the 

Department of Transportation and support from our greater Charlottesville community.

Regards,

Paul Dierkes

Owner

Okay Yellow, LLC