e 

U.S.Departinent o f 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

TroiMpOrtaHon Washington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretory .,_ _ ^ . ^.^ . 

of Transportation SEP 2 0 2011 

The Honorable Al Franken |-^ ^Or-f 

United States Senate "^^^'^^ 

Washington, DC 20510 

-fr ' "•" 

Dear Senator Franken: ^ 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the St. Cloud Regional 

Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(Small Community Program). 

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

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

Under the statute, the Department may use the funds to make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than four may be to communities in the same State. 

In order to provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service 

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

may be used. 

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

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

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

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

full consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2011-0119 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

fi:ee to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
7 

United States Senate 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2309 

August 5,2011 

Ms. Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 

US DOT Office of Aviation Analysis 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Small Community Air Service Development Grant Program 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

I am pleased to write in support of the St. Cloud Regional Airport and its 

application for funding from the Small Community Air Service Development Grant 

Program. 

The City of St. Cloud is located in central Minnesota. Central Minnesota is home 

to a number of higher education institutions and numerous businesses. The region has 

not had regularly scheduled air passenger service since December 2009, when Mesaba 

Airlines discontinued its service to the area. This has been a hardship for area businesses 

and residents, who must drive to the Twin Cities for air service. 

If funded, the St. Cloud Regional Airport will use Small Community Air Service 

Development funds to attract an air carrier in order to provide regulai- passenger air 

service to the region. This application has the support of the Mirmesota Department of 

Transportation and the St. Cloud business commimity. In fact, businesses and local 

governments are willing to contribute matching funds for this application. 

For the reasons above, I encourage your strong consideration of this proposal. If 

you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Katie Topinka at 

651-221-1016 or by email at katie_topinka@franken.senate.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Jj/U^Jjy^ 

Al Franken 

United States Senator 

V.'V'.Vv FRAN:<-:I \ .SF MATE .GOV 
uou 

Resolution No. 2011 -1 2 

Resolution of support for an application to the US DOT 

for a Small Community Air Service Development Grant To 

help enhance air service at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. 

Whereas, the St. Cloud Regional Airport lost regularly scheduled 

commercial air service on December 31, 2009, when Delta Air Lines withdrew 

service; and 

Whereas, many studies throughout the United States have confirmed that 

commercial air service is critical to the economic growth and stability of a region; 

and 

Whereas, the St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC) has been identified in a 

2003 MN DOT Aeronautics study as a Tier 2 airport and the most likely airport to 

relieve traffic from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport; and 

Whereas, the Small Community Air Service Development (SGASD) 

program is designed to provide financial assistance to help small communities, 

which are underserved, enhance their air service; and 

Whereas, the grant will aid in raising pledges as part of the 2010 air 

service initiative that is currently underway by the St. Cloud Regional Airport; and 

Whereas, MN DOT Office of Aeronautics is in full support of this SCASD 

application as evidenced by the attached letter; and 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ST. AUGUSTA, 

MINNESOTA, THAT: 
po^ 

The City of St. Augusta, MN, hereby supports the application of a 

$500,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant to the US DOT to 

help enhance air service at the St Cloud Regional Airport. 

Adopted this 2"*^ day of August, 2011. 

B. J. Kroll( Mayor 

Attest: 

William R. McCabe, Clerk/Administrator 
po<^ 

RESOLUTION 

SHERBURNE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 

Augii8t2.2011 ^ 08021 l-AD-1427 

Date Number 

Support for an Application to the US DOT for a Small Conununity Air Service Development 

Grant to Help Enhance Air Service at the St Cloud Regional Airport 

WHEREAS, the St. Cloud Regional Airport lost regularly scheduled commercial air service on 

December 31, 2009, when Delta Air Lines withdrew service; and 

WHEREAS, many smdies throughout the United Slates have confirmed that commercial air service is 

critical to the economic growth and stability of a region; and 

WHEREAS, the St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC) has been identified in a 2003 MN DOT Aeronautics 

study as a Tier 2 airport and the most likely aiqjort to relieve traffic fi-om Minneapolis/St. Paul 

International Airport; and 

WHEREAS, the Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) program is designed to 

provide financial assistance to help small communities, which are underserved, enhance their air 

service; and 

WHEREAS, the grant will aid in raising pledges as part of the 2011 air service initiative that is 

currently underway by the St. Cloud Regional Airport; and 

WHEREAS, MN DOT Office of Aeronautics is in ftdl support of this SCASD application as evidenced 

by the attached letter; and 

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners that the County of Sherburne 

hereby supports the application of a Small Community Air Service Development Grant to the US DOT 

to help enhance air service at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. 

On August 2,2010, Commissioner Ls&nAfA moved the adoption of the above resolution; 

Conmiissioner p/'/r he r seconded the motion to adopt said resolution, and thereupon the same was 

put to a vote with the following result: 

Aye Naye 

Commissioner Farber v/ 

Commissioner Petersen y/ 

Commissioner Riebel / 

Commissioner Schmiesing y/ 

Commissioner Leonard \ / 

AOTST: ^ X /yj ^ 

Brian Bensen, Obunty Administrator (Seal) 
P o ^ 

Resolution No. 2011 - -^" ^ 

Resolution of support for an application to the US DOT 

for a Small Communitv Air Service Development Grant To 

help enhance air service at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. 

Whereas, the St. Cloud Regional Airport lost regularly scheduled commercial air 

service on December 31, 2009, when Delta Air Lines withdrew service ; and 

Whereas, many studies throughout the United States have confirmed that 

commercial air service is critical to the economic growth and stability of a region; and 

Whereas, the St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC) has been identified in a 2003 MN 

DOT Aeronautics study as a Tier 2 airport and the most likely airport to relieve traffic 

from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport; and 

Whereas, the Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) program is 

designed to provide financial assistance to help small communities, which are 

underserved, enhance their air service; and 

Whereas, the grant will aid in raising pledges as part of the 2011 air service 

initiative that is currently undenway by the St. Cloud Regional Airport; and 

Whereas, MN DOT Office of Aeronautics is in full support of this SCASD 

application as evidenced by the attached letter; and 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAUK RAPIDS 

MINNESOTA, THAT: 

The City of Sauk Rapids, MN, hereby supports the application of a Small 

Community Air Service Development grant to the US DOT to help enhance air service at 

the St Cloud Regional Airport. 

Adopted this jL^ ^ day of Juf/y / 2011. 

/ 

Ross Olson, City Administrator