### THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC 20590

The Honorable Maria Cantwell United States Senate Washington, DC 2051 0

Dear Senator Cantwell: September 19, 2014

Thank you for your letter supporting the application submitted by the city ofYakima for a grant under the U.S. Departme11t ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program.

The Small Community Air Service Development 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 make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four may be lo communities in the same State. To provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their ait service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofair service development projects that can be funded.

On June 30, the Department issued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 31 for applications. As these grant requests are pending beforethe Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department 

### will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed.

As is our standatd practice, I am placing a copy ofyour letterand this response in Docket DOT-OST-2014-0113 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program.

Anthony R. FoxxMARrA CANTWELL WASHINGTON COMMITTEES: COMMERCE, SCIENCE. AND TRANS!'QRTATION

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# tlnitcd 

# tatrs**~rnatr** WASHINGTON, DC 20!510-4705 

### July 31, 2014

The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary U.S.**~~el'lt**of**'T~Imspotiation** 

### 1200NewJerseyAvenueSE Washington,D.C. 20590

Re: City ofYakima Application t.mder the U.S. DepartmentofTransportation Small CQn1mU11ity 

### Air

### Service Development Program DOCKET DOT-OST,..2014-Q913

... :< 1-<':11 1 '<- 

### Dear Secretary Foxx: FINANCE INDIAN AFFAIRS SMALLBUSINESS

I 

### strongly support the City ofYakima, Washington's application tbr funding under the Small Community Air ServiceDevelopment Program. The C1ty is requesting funding in the amount of $290,000 for its air service program and is matching it in an equal amount of$290,000 from the City's budget, to be expended over two years.
Ifawarded, the Cityproposes to usethese funds to increase flight frequencies, expand non-stop service, and reduce fares through a comprehensive marketing program and revenue guarantees. Continued marketing for a 4th daily flight on Alaska Airlines to Seattle will 

### receive $200,000 in funding, and the remaining funds will support revenue guarantees for a new flight from Yakima to Fortland. In the first year, .$80,000 will be spent for planning and research and $200,000 will be spent to strengthenthe Seattle route. In the second year, $300,000 will be spent to developmentthe Portlandroute to begin inthe winter of2015.
The eiihancement ofair service to and fromY ak:ima is critical for continued economic development and sustainability. It

### will improve travel connections for Yakima's bus1ness and residential community as well as enhance the attraction ofYakima as 

### atourist destination inthe 

### region.

I recommend the City ofYakima for a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant in fiscal 2014 and encourage careful review ofits application.

RICHLAND SEATTlE 

### Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell U.S. Senator

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