4!:i E..lJNiVt.RSITY AVL STE. 206 

CH AMPAICN,IL 0 I A?.O 

(217).'355·5252 

28 W. NORTH STTIEET • I ST FLOOR 

DANVILLE, IL 61832 

(21 7) <142 ·52 52 

June 7, 2012 

ILLINOIS STATE SENATE 

MICHAEL FRERlCHS 

STATE SENATOR· 52ND DISTRICT 

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 7th Street SW Room i 0200 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

1 18 STATE CAPI'rOL 

:iPRINGFIFt-0, IL 62706 

(;>;' 71 782·2507 

'+"if~ writing to expfess my support f.er tl:le grant applioation subrmtted by I he U.niversity of Illinois' Willard · 

Airport to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Small Community Air Service Development Program. 

The proposal is to support non-stop service between Champa~gn-Urbana and Washmgton Dulles. 

Access to commercial air transportation is a key ingred1ent in building a strong and vibrant east centrallllinou; 

economy and 1s a htgh priority for local development efforts as well as those of the University of Illinois. The 

University of Illinois Research Park was recently ranked by Forbes as one of the top ten technology incubation 

!acllltles in the country. Over the last 1en years the University of llltnois Research Park has created 1200 

technology related jobs and is a research facility for many top companies induding Yahoo, Caterpillar, John 

Deere, Sony, and State Farm to name just a few. Access to robust commercial air service is critical to the 

future success of these efforts and the companies we host. According to a recent study by the Illinois 

Department of Transportation. Willard Airport produced a total economic impact of nearly 560 m1fllon and this 

grant investment v;;ll ensure that W11.ard A1•port ::::rt1nues to nclp the University and local ..:ommunitics to 

lhn11e. 

Research at the University of Illinois involves several hundred million dollars In funding by Washington. 

Betweon the University of Illinois. Federal agenc1es and local business and heavy intemational travel to Dulles 

and beyond we behave a direct flight to the Washtngton area can be developed and sustained. 

I appreciate your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my Chief of Staff, should you 

have any questrons or need any further rnformation on this application or the impact this grant would have on 

the a1rport and community. 

Sincerely, 

Michael Frerichs 

3 
li iCHARO J DUP.B if,l 

!L ~: 

Secretary Ray LaHood 

l 'il n;·:-,·,fi c -----1" ... .., ~>:; 'f -r ...;,.ti!Hl ... r;;::l l d ... l!:~ ~" "' ~ ~d _ 

lllas!Hnuton, 1:10: Ji l o-1 ~o-1 

June 14, 2012 

U.S. Department ofTransporation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

CUf,!lf\iiTI [[; ON rlU S 

IO.NO r,Dfv11N IST riAT:Oi·: 

I am writing to express my supp011 of the grant application submitted by the University of 

Illinois' Willard Airport to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Small Community Air 

Service Development Program. The proposal is to support non-stop service between ChampaignUrbana and Washington Dulles. 

Access to commercial air transp01iation is a key ingredient in building a strong and vibrant 

east central Illinois economy and is a high priority for local development efforts as well as those of 

the University of Illinois. 

Over the last ten years the University of Illinois Research Park has created over 1200 

technology related jobs and is a research facility for many top companies including Yahoo, 

Caterpillar, John Deere, Sony, and State Fmm to name a few. Access to robust commercial air 

services is critical to the future success of these efforts and the companies they host. 

According to a recent study by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Willard Airp01t 

produced a total economic impact of nearly $60 million; this grant investment will ensure that 

Willard Airport continues to help the university and local communities to thrive. 

The University of Illinois' research projects involve hundreds of million dollars of federal 

morley. A direct flight to the Washington area can be developed and sustained by all who would use 

this service including the University of 111inois, federal agencies, local businesses, and international 

travelers. 

I urge you to give this application the most serious consideration. Thank you for your 

attention to this matter. 

RJD/kbf 

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·-. \·.:,·::hr·- 0i·J. ( .: (< ;-~; 1 .-- --D( _.\ · n ... .>:-: --: 

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510-120620-015 

Sincerely, 

Richard J. Durbin 

United States Senator 

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