U.S. Departmentof Transportation Officeofthe Secretary ofTransportation



### Mr. JeffRasmussen County Administrative Officer

for Jefferson County Suite A 66 S.E. D Street Madras, OR 97741 Dear Mr. Rasmussen: 

## JUL 5**i.~\2** 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Redmond Municipal Airport for a grant underthe U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program.

·The Small Community Air Service Development Program was establishedto help smaller

communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues relatedto high airfares or insufficient service. Underthe statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities inthe same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications. by June 11. As these grant requests are pendingbefore the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you thatthe 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 ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,

# N~~ Aloha Ley ......., Associate Director Small Community Program ,.. ·'..... · .. ·.**~** .. ..,' 

# JEFFERSON COUNTY COUNTYADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

66 S.E. 

### ··o·· St.. Suite A • Madras, Oregon 97741 • Ph: (541) 475-2449 e FAX: (541) 475-4454 jeft:rasmussen@co.jefferson.or.us

Aloha Ley Associate Director,,Small Community Program Office ofAviation Analysis US Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE W86-310 Washington, DC 20590 Subject: Small CommunityAir Service DevelopmentProgram DocketDOT-OST-2012-0069 City

# ofRedmond, OR -Redmond Municipal Airp-ort Dear Ms. Ley: Jefferson County supp01ts the air service proposal detailed in the City ofRedmond's Small Community Air Service Development Program grant application to obtain nonstop service to southern California. Businesses in Central Oregon depend on access to air service to continue to prosper. Growth in Eentra4'0regori overthe past few years has been fueled by the presence ofthe Redmond Municipal Airport. As you evaluate the merits ofthis application, I encourageyou to considerhow critically important air service is to Central Oregon. As our community continues to grow and more visitors are drawn to this unique region, our limited transportation options will be further strained unless service is expanded at Redmond Municipal Airport. The Airp01t has forged strong ties with the business community to attract better air service. We appreciate the opportunity to expand that partnership to include the US Depmtment ofTransportation through the Small Community Air Service Development Program. We are pleased to have the opportunity to support this grant application. Sincerely.

County Administrative Officer