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U^Dapartment of 1200 New jersey Avenue, SE 

TtanSorianon Washington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary SEP 2 0 2Uil 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Sherrod Brown 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Brown: — 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Toledo-Lucas County 

Port Authority 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 msufficient 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 conmiunities 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 fiirther information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
SH^HROD BROWN 

OHIO 

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AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, 

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AND URBAN AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

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VETERANS'AFFAIRS AugUSt 10, 2011 

SELECT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development Program 

United States Department of Transportation 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Director Ley: 

It is my pleasure to support the Toledo Express Airport its effort to secure fiinding through the 

U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program 

Grant. 

If awarded, fimding would be used to attract new air service fi-om Toledo Express to better serve 

their communities. The Toledo Express Airport has seen a significant decline in its air traffic in 

the past decade, and airline capacity at Toledo Express is down more than 70 percent from 2003. 

The airport has developed a comprehensive air service incentive program, including ground 

handling support and startup phase fee waivers. It is my hope that the combination of the grant 

funding to support marketing and promotional activities, as well as the airport's incentive 

program will provide Toledo with the tools it needs to reverse the leakage of local air travel 

demand to other airports, and re-establish some of the air service that has been lost in recent 

years. 

Please give serious consideration to Toledo Express Airport's application for funding. I ask that 

you keep my office informed of the status of this application. 

Sincerely, 

SMifiwufH 

Sherrod Brown 

United States Senator 

SB:lm 

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