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THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON DC 20590 

September 09, 2011 

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The Honorable Kirsten E. Gillibrand 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Gillibrand: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Niagara County Department 

of Economic Development for a grant under the Small Community Air Ser\'ice Development 

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 U.S. Department of Transportation may make a ma.ximum of 40 grant awards each 

year, although no more than 4 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 

allows 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 1 cannot comment on the merits of any particular 

proposal. I can 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 copv of your letter and tliis response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2011-0119 as a contact outsid<^<|fc record of this matter. JLappreciate your interest in 

this program. If 1 can provide fu/fiier inpw/iation or assistance, pjjra* feel free to call me. 
SlO-110829-010 

KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND COMMITTEES: 

NEWVORK ARMED SERVICES 

NEW Yunn ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS 

SENATOR ASRICUITURE 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGINO 

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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3206 

August 16, 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood, 

I write in support of the application submitted by the Niagara County Center for 

Economic Development (NCEED) for fijnding from the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program through the U.S. Department of Transportation. This funding will 

provide financial assistance to help enhance the air service operations and marketing of the 

Niagara Falls International Airport (NFIA). 

The Niagara County Department of Economic Development provides planning 

services to municipahties, citizens and organizations in Niagara County, particularly 

promoting, growth and development throughout the region. The NFIA has worked 

diligendy with a strong coaUtion of local elected officials, economic developers, and 

acadeimc and business leaders who are working across community, county and national 

boundaries to improve air service in the region. The airport not only provides access to 

areas around the cotmtry, but also is an essential connection to Canada, bringing with it 

increased opportunity for commerce. 

The requested funding will ensure that the significant developments and investment 

that have been made at the airport are marketed to fiirther increase traffic through the area. 

This project will also support ongoing economic development efforts to attract new outside 

investment from nearby regions. This funding is critical to allowing the local community to 

fund their marketing airport initiatives and provide incentives to entice additional airline 

carriers to operate at the airport. In this economic climate, it is important that we provide 

our conununities with the necessary resources to expand economic opportunities, as this 

project is sure to do. 

I ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any 

questions, or desire further information, please do not hesitate to contact my staff member 

Andrew Usyk at (202) 224-4451. 

Sincerely, 

Kirsten E. Gillibrand 

United States Senator 

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