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USb Dsportnwnt of 

Transportation 

Office of ttie Secretary 

of Transportation 

:"ARTMEMT OF 

\zl UrbHAiiL.N 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

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The Honorable Kim Ward 

Pennsylvania Senator 

Harrisburg,PA 17120-3039 

Dear Ms. Ward: 

SEP 2 1 2011 

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

Airport 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 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 carmot comment on the 

merits of any particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will 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 

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

• ^ 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Commimity Program 
39TM SENATORIAL DISTRICT 

KIM WARD 

SENATE BOX 20303 9 

T H E STATE CAPITOL 

HARRISBURG, P A 17120-303 9 

(7 17) 787-6063 

FAX:(717)772-058 0 

76 6 E. PITTSBURGH STREET 

SUITE 101 

GREENSBURG, PA 15601 

(724) 600-7002 

FAX: (724)600-7008 

TOL L FREE : (877) 787-0039 

COMMITTEES — T 

AGING a YOUTH CHAIR | 

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CONSUMER PROTECTION a PROFESSIONAL 

LICENSURE 

PUBLIC HEALT H a WELFARE 

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PREPAREDNESS 

SENATE MAJORITY POLICY COMMITTEE 

Senate of ^ennsiplbania EMAIL: kward@pasen.gov 

WEBSITE : www.senatorward.com 

July 26, 2011 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development Program, X-55 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New/ Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

I 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, 

Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, moving more than 30,000 passengers through Arnold Palmer 

Regional in less than five months. Load factors have proven unprecedented at the airport, averaging in 

the high 80% and mid 90% ranges. 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 

bolstering a priceless economic asset to the communities the airport serves. 

Your favorable review of this application would be greatly appreciated. 

Should you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sincerely, 

c^d^^Jdu^ 

SENATOR KIM WARD 

KLW/ljs