^ ••^rARTMENTOF • 

r ^ ^ ^ •.'vSPCRWION 

' U i Department of ; :. ST 0^ ^ WiON " 

Ttansportation 

Office of the Secretary • :: : -; o o '? "3 ^ 

ofTransportafion " ' ' ' -'-' 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

SEP 2 1 2011 

The Honorable Don White 

Pennsylvania Senator 

Harrisburg, PA 17120-3041 

Dear Mr. White: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Westmoreland County 

Airport Authority for a grant under the Small Conmiunity 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 vdll give 

fiill 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 
VOLCOMMITTEE S 

BANKING 8l INSURANCE, CHAIRMA N 

TRANSPORTATION, VICE CHAIRMA N 

COMMUNITY a ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES St ENERGY 

LABOR a INDUSTRY 

VETERANS' AFFAIRS St EMERGENCY 

PREPAREDNESS 

State Senator 

Don White 

41st Senatorial District SENATE BOX 203O41 

THE STATE CAPITOL 

HARRISBURG, PA 17120-304 I 

717-787-8724 

FAX: 7I7-772-1S8 9 

m 

6 18 PHILADELPHIA STREET 

INDIANA, PA 15701 

724-3S7-OIS1 

FAX : 724-357-014S 

(TOLL FREE) 866-3S7-0151 

PA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT 

AUTHORITY (PENNVEST) 

SOUTHWESTERN PA VETERANS' CENTER 

ADVISORY COUNCI L 

101 MARKET STREET 

SUITE ICO 

KITTANNING, PA 16201 

724-543-3026 

FAX: 724-548-4856 

395 0 WILLIA M PENN HIGHWAY 

MURRYSVILLE, PA 15668 

724-327-2422 

FAX: 724-327-2436 

July 21, 2011 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development Program, X-55 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Westmoreland County Airport Authority's Funding Request 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

1 am writing to lend my support to the Westmoreland County Airport Authority's request 

for funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development program to expand the scheduled air service that has shown phenomenal promise 

at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. 

The Authority has seen dramatic success with the launch of Spirit Airlines service to Fort 

Lauderdale, FL and Myrtle Beach, SC, which has moved more than 30,000 passengers through 

Arnold Palmer Airport in less than 5 months. The airline is now considering additional 

destinations to augment this thriving operation, and asks only for assistance in marketing the new 

routes. 

These efforts are heavily dependent upon marketing efforts that the airline has proven 

successful. Grant funding through the SCASD program is critical to supporting these efforts to 

expand service and bolster a priceless economic asset to the communities the airport serves. 

Your favorable review of this application would be greatly appreciated. Should you have 

any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Westmoreland County office at your 

convenience. 

Sincerely, 

iA/V {AJJ ^ 

Don White 

Senator, 41" District