U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Casey Kozlowski 

Ohio House of Representatives 

Columbus, OH 43215 

Dear Mr. Kozlowski: 

Assistant Secretary 

July 3, 2012 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Thank you for your letter addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal submitted by 

the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department of 

Transportation's Small Community Air 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 issues related to high airfares or 

insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of 40 grant 

awards each year, although no more than 4 awards 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 flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded. 

On May 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the 

Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any particular proposal. I assure you that the 

Department will give full and fair 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-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record of this matter. !·appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Sincerely yours, 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
(J'OJlJJ.IJil!iWi!. 

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Ohk.: 61·-.;J0-I·o-; 

Toi!-Fhc; .·too··2f.. ;-o;~s3 

Fax; 614-719-3967 

Email: d!strict99@ohr.stnte.oh.us 

-Education 

-\'icc Chainnan of Transportation, 

Public Safety, and Homeland Security 

Casey Kozlowski 

State Representative, 991.h House District 

June 6, 2012 

The Honorabl.e Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department ofTransportation · 

400 7'11 Street, SW, Room 6401 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

As State Representative of the 99111 House District of Ohio, I am \-vriti11g in support for the 

··YouJfgstown~Warr!!n Regional Airpores:g~ant application for funding.~in9.er theSmall 

Conti1mnity Air Service Development Program DOT-OST-2012-0069. T11ese funds ar~ critical 

to set in n:'~tion the A,irport's pr9poscd Passenger Service Enhancement.Stratcgy to reest~blish 

regularly scheduled comrnerciai air sct"Vice in the Youngstown-Warren:-Shafon'metrop~litan 

service area. This advancement would ~;.rt·eatly aid in the economic outlook of Ohio residents. ., 

During the past 1.5 years, the Airport has received in excess of $60 million fi·om federal, state, 

and local government agencies for capital improvements. The local community has formed a 

vital partnership of governments and private organizations and businesses through the creation of 

the Westem Reserve Port Authority. \qtich ov.ns and manages (he 1\.i!l'ort. Although the . 

community is strongly supporth e of the Airport, the lack of competiti,.·e pr-icing and quality air 

::ll!.f\·kes in the past has no\\ cau~ed the Ail port to be undcrutilizcd and l~o~ ~esulted in the 

800,000·residents of Eastern Ohio and \\'estern Pcru1~yh·ania to driYe to Cleveland or Pittsburgh 

for their air travel t1eeds. In addition, larger airports now require an additional one to two hours 

for air travelers to secure parking and check through security systems. 'll1c success of other 

regional aiq)orts such as Akron-Camon clearly demonstrates that there is a viable place for small 

to midsize airports in the aviation industry. With the assistance of this gram~ the Airport would 

be able to offer superior air services at lower costs to the community and would contribute 

greatly to securing the future of the Airport. •' 

Congress developed this program specifically to help communities like the Y mmgstovm-WarrenSharon metropolitan service nrca improve their business climate, spm· economic development, 

w\vw.house.stnte.oh.us 

77 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-61~1 .. 

S10-120622-001 
Committees; 

-Agriculture 

Contact lqfqnnation: 

Office: 614-466-1405 

Toll-Free: 1-Soo-282·0253 

Fax: 614-719-3967 

Email: district99@ohr.state.oh.us 

-Education 

-Vice Chailman ofTranspottation, 

Public Safety, und Homeland Security 

Casey Kozlowski 

State Representative, 99th House District 

and enhance the quality of life through the development of air sen·ice. The Youngstown-WarrenSharon metropolitan service area is the most concentrated manufacturing region in Ohio but has 

one of the highest unemployment rates. As the Airport is a critical component of the 

community's economic development strategy, failure to redevelop air service will only impede 

our ability to attract and ret8.in employers to our community. Therefore, it is imperative th~t our 

Airport is successful in securing funding under the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program. 

I would support and appreciate your positive consideration of the proposal for a Small 

Community Air Service Development Program grant for the Youngstown-Warren Regional 

Airport and the communi~y it s~rves. 

, .. 

. ;., .: .· ::• .. ··;: 

Sincerely, - ·~ ........... 

Casey 

~~ Kozlowski 

State Representative 

991

h House District of. Ohio . ... ... ,~· 

.. . ...... 

' ' 

www .housc.state.oh.us 

77 S.-High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215~6111 

.. S10~120622~UlJ1 ., • • ~ c ' ~