# Q"LJ \{@EJ U.S. Department Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation



### Mr. Gary P. Hinkson City Manager City of Hermitage 800North Hermitage Road Hermitage, PA 16148 DearMr. Hinkson: July 3, 2012

Thank you for yourletter addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting theproposal submittedby the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport for a grantunderthe U.S. Department of Transportation's Small CommunityAir Service Development Program. The Secretary has requested that I respond on his behalf. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issuesrelatedto high airfares or insuffiCient service. Under the statute, the Departmentmay make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards maybe to communities inthe same State. 

### In orderto provide communities with latitude indeveloping solutionsto their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects thatcanbe funded. OnMay 15, the Departmentissued an orderrequesting that communities interested inreceiving a grant this year file their applications byJune 11. As these grantrequests are pending before the

.Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed. As is our normal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in**thi~** program. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

### Office of the City Manager 

# City 

# of Herrnitage**(~>** (,: 800 North Herm1tage Road, Hermttuge, Pennsylv<Jnra 16148 Phone: 724-981-0800 Fax 724-983-1922 ghinkson@hermitage.net WVvw.herrnitage.net

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation U.S. Department ofTranspmtation 400 7111 Street, SW, Room 6401 Washington, DC 20590 June 7, 2012



### Subject: Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram Grant Application Docl{et DOT-OST-2012-0069 Dear Secretary LaHood: We are \'v'Iiting to respectfully express our support for the Ypungstown-Warren Regional Airport's grant application for funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. A success1ul grant application is one of several steps in the Ahvort's proposed Passenger Service ·Enhancement Strategy tp reestablished regularly scheduled commercial air service in tht? Youngstown-Warren-Sharon metropolitan service**ax~a.**

. . During the past 15 years, the Airport has .received in excess of $60 million from federal, state, and local government, agencies for capital improvements. Th,e loyal.**co~munity** has formed a vital partnership ofgovernments and private organizations and businesses'through the creation of the Western Reserve Port Authority, which owns and manages the Airport. Although the community is strongly supp01tive ofthe Ahport, the lack ofcompetitive pricing and quality air· services in the past has now caused the Airpmt to be underutilized and has resulted in the 800,000 residents ofEastem Ohio and Westem Pennsylvaniato drive to Cleveland or Pittsburgh for their air travetneeds. In addition, larger airports now require an additionalone to two hours for air travelers ,to secure parking and check through security systems. The success of other regional airports such as Akron-Canton clearly demonstrates that there is a viable place for small to midsize airports in the aviation industry. With the assistance ofthis grant, the Airport would be able·to offer superior air services at lower costs to the community and would contribute greatly to securing the future ofthe Airpmt.

. . Congress developed this program spedfkally to help communities Hke the Youngstown-Wan·enSharon metropolitan service area improve their business climate, spur economic development, and enhance the quality oflife through the development ofair service. The Youngstown-Warren-

., 510-120614-005

### The Honorable Ray 

### LaHood June 7, 2012 Page 2


### Sharon metropolitan service area is the most concentrated manufacturing region in Ohio but has one ofthe highest unemployment rates of any metropolitan area in Ohio. As the Airport is a critical component ofthe community's economic development strategy, failure to redevelop air service will 

### only impede our ability to attract and retain employers to our community. Therefore, it is imperative that our Airport is successful in securing funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. We Support and appreciate your positive consideration ofthe proposal for a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant for the Youngstown-Wan-en Regional Airport and the community it 

### serves. Sincerely yours,



# ..

GPH!bal



### c: Daniel J. 

### Dickten, AAE, Director ofAviation

S10-120614-005