ALANDMARK 

€ L A NATIONAL BANK 

APARTMENT OF 

;^NSP0RW10N 

:'<cT OPERATIONS 

0 ncT ! 3 A S: M Septembers, 2010 ,p. 

Ms. Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Support of Manhattan, KS in the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program Grant Application 

Ms. Kurland: 

I am writing you today to express my support of Manhattan Regional Airport and their 

efforts to obtain funding through the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program Grant. Last year Manhattan Regional Airport began offering daily flights to 

Dallas, and will begin flights to Chicago in November. These flights have been a great 

benefit to Manhattan in several ways. They have allowed people from central Kansas 

easy access to air travel, they have enhanced Manhattan's ability to attract new 

businesses to the community, and they have strengthened Manhattan's relationship with 

both Kansas State University and nearby Fort Riley. Receipt of the grant funds would 

allow Manhattan Regional Airport to create a regional marketing campaign that would 

greatly increase awareness of the convenience of flying from Manhattan. This increased 

awareness would further enliance the benefits to the Manhattan community. I urge you to 

award Manhattan Regional Airport grant funding to capitalize on the considerable 

momentum they have already created. 

Sincerely, 

Brian D. Whitesell 

Assistant Vice President 

Landmark National Bank 

HonicOllicc • 71)1 l>oviiU Aw. • I'C) Ho>, 5(1.'! • M;inliaU;iii. lA (.'.JO'J • 7,S5.565.2000 • 7,S5.5()5.20:2 [A.X • r,.\vv.b;iiilUiiit!iu;iit, torn 
/4^. ^ „ . TRARTMENT OF iS$; Commerce Bank NSPORWION 

"^'^ .•,;;:<ET OPERATIONS' 

727 Poyntz Avenue 

Post Office Box 1087 'DiO jC J | 3 A 9= M 

Manhattan, Kansas 66505-1087 

(785) 537-1234 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Small Community Air Service Development Program Application, DOCKET UOT-OST-2010-0124, City 

of Manhattan, KS 

Dear Secretary Kurland, 

On behalf of both myself and Commerce Bank, N.A. Manhattan Branch, I am writing in support of the 

Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant for the Manhattan Regional Airport in 

Manhattan, Kansas. 

I have personally seen the change in the traveling public from the expansion to commercial jet service, 

with the ability to limit the travel to and from the airport. It has greatly improved the quality of travel 

from this region. By providing access to hubs like Dallas and Chicago, the Manhattan Regional Airport 

has given residents in our area an economical way to travel to distant cities and welcome family back to 

the Flint Hills. As a member of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Board, I see first-hand the 

impact this has, as an important economic development tool for our community and the region. 

While my business travel is not extensive, personally my family has utilized the service several times and 

truly enjoys the aircraft, excellent service and the ability to efficiently travel to many destinations with 

limited stops. 

It is important for the Manhattan Regional Airport to build on the successes of the service that is just 

past tts fir«:t anniversary hy reaching out to those within this largely rural area around Manhattan to 

make them aware of the travel options that exist in Manhattan. For the reasons I have outlined above, it 

is important to both myself, our company, those we do business with and the Flint Hills Region that this 

airport and air service continue to grow and prosper in the future. 

Sincerely, 

Richard B. Jankovich, SVP 

www.commercebank.com 
B G CONSULTANTS , INC . / Engineers-Architects-Surveyors ;r.t-ARTK'. J^.l.Ot 

• :A\iQonnT 

• (785) 537-7448 • PA'sH^ZSW-r 

4806 Vue Du Lac PI. • Manhattan, Kansas 66503 www.bgcons.com 

.. ^t i 

?()iB OCT ! 3 A ^ i 1 

September 02, 2010 

Susan L. Kurland 

Asst. Sec. for Aviation & International Affairs 

US Dept. of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Re: Support of Manhattan, Ks. 

hi the Small City Air 

Service Dev. Prograni 

Grant Application 

Dear Ms. Kurland 

The Manhattan regional area has finally achieved non-stop jet service to Dallas and will 

soon have service to Chicago. Service to Dallas started with two flights a day and has been 

recently increased to three flights a day. I am convinced that opening Manhattan to the world 

will improve our chances of companies relocating here and it will encourage the expansion of 

existing businesses. That definitely is a plus for our firm which designs buildings and 

infrastructure. 

Continued heavy usage of flights to and from Manhattan is important for encouraging 

new flights to additional cities and to keep the existing flights. The Manhattan airport should be 

advertised as a viable alternative to Kansas City and Wichita. Our Chamber of Commerce is 

working on that message. Please consider Manhattan's grant request for assistance in this 

endeavor favorably. 

Sincerely 

Thomas L. Bennett, P.E. 

TLB:hb 

Also 

Lawrence, Ks. • Hutchinson, Ks. • Emporia, Ks. 
CORPORATION 

2700 Amherst Ave. 

Manhattan, KS 66502 

USA H '?!mmri OF 

,ANSPORW!ON 

:-LT QPCnATIONS 

Randy O'Boyle, President 

Voice: (785) 776-6423 

FAX: (785) 776-6424 

September 1, 2010 

Susan L. Kurland 

Asst Sec of Aviation and int'l Affairs 

US Dept of Transportation 

W860334 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Wash D.C. 20590 

:o;o cci 13 A RM i 

Dear Sec Kurland, 

I am urging you to support the Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant 

Application being requested by the city of Manhattan, Ks in support of the Manhattan Regional 

Airport. 

As the CEO of an aircraft parts design & manufacturing company, direct air service is critical to 

our business. Since we were able to bring in limited, regular air service from Manhattan to Dallas 

on American Eagle, it has greatly increased the viability of key customers making a visit to "see 

and believe". Once I get them here closing the deal is the simple part. The community has been 

very supportive of the service whenever possible (reflected in the addition of a 3"^ Dallas flight). 

We have a good deal of overseas business and the 2 hour + drive to Manhattan (from MCI) asks 

a lot from our customers. Manhattan is a vibrant and growing community. The "if you build it they 

will come" scenario is descriptive of this opportunity. Our direct flights to Dallas are great. We 

need an affordable connection to Chicago or Denver preferably by a competing carrier. This 

addition would give us many more East/West options (especially overseas connections) and the 

competitiveness necessary keep prices viable. 

I feel extremely confident that a grant to get some expanded air service is a good investment. I 

believe a few more flights/destinations and an additional carrier would be all that is needed to 

increase our business opportunities and allow us to carry the weight down the road. 

Sincerely, 

Rand any O'Boylef O'Boyli T ' 

President/CECJ 

ICE Corporation 

Manhattan, Ks 66502 

Paae 1 of 1 
<E CODEVO POTTAWATOMIE CODWTY ECONOMIC 

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 

APARTMENT OF 

>^NSP0RW10N ^ 

-KPT OPERATIONS 

V n """^ f r^ .1 PO Box 288, 1004 Lincoln Ave ,.,^ ^^_ , ^ A o- I I 

\oHr Resource for Qroivth TMrame^ Wamego. Kansas 66S47 /i^iO OCl ! 3 A H- I I , Kansas 66547 

785-456-9776 

t)obcole@ecodevo. com 

w w u .ecode\ o.com 

September 7, 2010 

Siosan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20690 

Re: Support of Manhattan, Kansas Small Community Air Servlcse Development 

Grant Application 

Dear Secretary Kurland: 

The tward of directors and staff of the Pottawatomie Goimty Economic 

Development Corporation lend our stron^st possible support to the application 

to 370ur agency for grant fxands to expand the mArketlng effort in our region 

for air service throTogh the Manhattaja Regional Airport. 

The advent of American Eagle service through Manhattan, Kansas to/from 

Dallas/Port Worth has strongly exceeded expectations dioring its startup year. 

The addition of service to/from Chicago In November will further expand our 

market. Our market can be very greatly expanded however, since currently 

only a fraction of the available air travelers in oxir region have begun using 

our new service to/fm Manhattan. 

The expanded air service to/fm Manhattan, Kansas serves the general public, 

but is also strategically important given the presence of Port Riley - one of the 

m£^or training facilities in the US. This strategic presence will be augmented In 

the near future by the completion of the National Bio and Agpo Defense Facility 

(NBAP) - the central US Homeland Security Facility for the study of Animal 

Borne diseases. Coupled with increasing travel by KSU factilty and colleagues 

from throughout the world - the Manhattan Re^onaJ Airport has the potential 

to become an uncommonly vibrant "small market" service to the people of the 

region and personnel of these important strate^c facilities. 

Your assistance In providing grant fiinds to accelerate ridership to/fm the 

Manhattan Regional Airport would be a great service to our region and wo\ild 

be deeply appreciated. 

Very Sincerely 

Robert L. Cole 

Director 

Cc Peter Van Kuren 
SUNFLOWER 

HANK 

MEMBER FDIC 

www.siinflowerbank.com 

2710 Anderson 

IM) Sarber tane 

P.O. Box 667 

Manhattan, JCS 6(i502-06()7 

Tel(78';) 537-05';o 

F;i.\ (785) 5M-18bO 

KnHnas Colli), I Dodge CiK I Kllinwood 

:v^^ARTMENTOF 

>;-,NSPORWiON 

•; ^ET OPERATiONS Randall J. Anderes 

Sunflower Bank 

2710 Anderson Avenue, J -i . :> -^ 

Manhattan, Kansas 66503 

September 1,2010 

Ms. Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Support of Manhattan, Kansas 

in the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program Grant Application 

Dear Ms. Kurland: 

I am writing to show support for the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program Grant our community is requesting. 

Our Chamber/City Commercial Air Service Grant request is an important 

resource for our commvmity to help it grow and expand our air service to this 

region. The Grant will allow us to build upon our current successes and 

encourage regional communities to continue using and expanding the use of our 

convenient Manhattan Regional Airport. The increase in demand will be the 

catalyst for additional flights from the Manhattan Regional Airport. 

The Grant will be a positive for our community and enhance our ability to grow 

and continue to improve our communit>' and region. 

Thank you for your support. 

Sincerely, 

0; II 

Randall J. Anderes 

President, 

Sunflower Bank Manhattan and Junction City 

Brhighig out the l)esl In tl.ie tires we toiicl)... (.renting Fi>ssil)ilitr. 

Mtl'luTson I Oshoriie I Russell I Salina i Topcka I Victoria I Wichita 
L 

402 MILLER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 297 • WAMEGO, KS 66547 USA 

PHONE 800-530-5407 • FAX 785-456-8328 

August 16,2010 

Ms. Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Small Community Air Service Development Program Application, DOCKET DOT-OST-2010-

0124, City of Manhattan, KS 

Dear Ms. Kurland: 

Please consider this letter to be hearty support for the application fi-om the City of Manhattan, Kansas for 

a grant to assist in developing a comprehensive regional marketing plan for the air services now available 

at the Manhattan Regional Airport. 

I have a small company located in Wamego, Kansas, which is about 20 miles east of the airport. Since 

the commencement of the jet service by American Airlines my company has taken advantage of local air 

service many times. Prior to this, we had a nearly 3 hour drive to the Kansas City airport, where we had 

limited nop-stop flights, meaning we had to go to ianother hub and change planes. By having the flights to 

Dallas, and soon to Chicago, we can depart from Manhattan, connect in the major hub, and arrive at our 

destination much sooner. 

These flights are proving to be a boon to our ability to recruit key employees and to keep in contact with 

important customers. This, in turn, helps us grow our company. I'm certain this is true for other 

businesses in the area. 

Naturally, the key to maintaining this service will be utilization. That is where the marketing efforts are 

cmcial. I have no doubt that the benefits to the population of our region, when communicated to the 

people, will spur additipnal usage of this terrific air service. And the bottom line is that it will benefit a 

largely rural area in a rural s^ate. 

Thank you for your consideration of my comments and the grant application. 

Regards, 

Clark Balderson 

President 

www. OYMAXinc.com 
manufacturing company 

August 26, 2010 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation / W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Small Community Air Service Development Program Application 

DOCKET DOT-OST- 2010-0124, City of Manhattan, KS 

Dear Secretary Kurland: 

I am writing in support of the Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant for the 

Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan, Kansas - on both a personal level and on behalf of 

the company I work for- Florence Manufacturing. 

Our company moved to Manhattan, Kansas from the Chicago area about seven years ago. We 

have about a dozen employees who moved with us and still have family members in the 

Chicago area. They couldn't have been more delighted to hear of the American Eagle 

announcement regarding the new Chicago connection! Even before this new connecting flight, 

the recent enhancements in air service over the last few years have been critical to our ability to 

retain and recruit talent. I know our company is not unique in understanding the value air 

service provides in that never ending endeavor. 

I personally fly for business 2-3 a month and have utilized the Dallas connection at every 

opportunity. I do however travel to the DC area the most frequently and look foPA^ard to the new 

service through Chicago in the near future. Our engineering team also flies to DC often and will 

be utilizing this new service as well. 

In addition to employee travel, we do business via a national distribution network and bring 

customers, sales reps and dealers to our facility for training and meetings. Affordable, 

convenient air service is critical to our ability to carry out and grow our business. 

The expanded air service provided by the Manhattan Regional Airport has been critical to 

helping our company be successful in this incredibly difficult economy. I, and others in our 

company, believe it is vitally important that this airport continue to grow and provide additional 

routes and service. This will help support the growth we expect in the coming years both in the 

community and in our own company. We appreciate your support. 

Sincere, 

atacyKohilrn^ier 

Vice-PresWent Marketing & Sales 

5935 Corporate Drive • Manhattan, KS 66503 

Ph 800.275.1747 • Fax 800.275.5081 • florencemailboxes.com A GtBRAOAR INDUSTRIES COMPAt-JY /V 
WTC 

Leading Telecommunications Through the 21st Century 

1009 Lincoln Ave - P.O. Box 25 - Wamego, Kansas 66547 

www.wamego.net 

August 17, 2010 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs 

US Department of Transportation 

W86-334 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

RE: Small Community Air Service Development Program Application, DOCKET DOT-OST-2010-0124, City 

of Manhattan, KS 

Dear Secretary Kurland, 

On behalf of both myself and my company, I am writing in support of the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program Grant for the Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan, Kansas. 

On a personal level, the expansion of air services at the Manhattan Regional Airport has been a great 

way for family and friends who live far away to travel economically and efficiently for visits. By 

providing access to a regional hub like Dallas, the Manhattan Regional Airport has given residents in our 

area an economical way to travel to distant cities. I sit on the board of the Pottawatomie County 

Economic Development Corporation and can tell you first-hand that this has been an important 

economic development tool for our rural community. 

WTC, the company for which I work, has utilized the air service at Manhattan Regional Airporton many 

occasions. We are an independent telecommunications company and many within our company travel 

extensively for business. This airport and the access to Dallas are an important link for both our -

company employees as well as vendors who wish to travel to Wamego, Kansas to do business with our 

company. 

However, it is important for the Manhattan Regional Airport to build on the successes of the first year of 

expanded service by reaching out to those within this largely rural area around Manhattan to make 

them aware of the travel options that exist in Manhattan. For the reasons I have outlined above, it is 

important to both myself, our company, and those we do business with that this airport continue to 

grow and prosper in the future. 

Sincere! . 

lel A. Rice 

Assistant Manager, WTC 

Phone 785-456-1000 Fax 785-456-9903 E-Mail wamtelco@wamego.nei