U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Office of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

SEP 11 2014 

Ms. Judy Copeland 

President 

Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce 

2111 North Trenton Street 

Ruston, LA 71270 

Dear Ms. Copeland: 

Assistant Secretary 

,.,_ '• I 

?:_- tt -~ 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Wasl1ington. DC 20590 

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

Monroe Regional Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small 

Community Air Service Development Program. Secretary Foxx asked that I respond to you 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 and 

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

awards each year, although no more than four may be to communities in the same State. To 

provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the 

statute provides flexibility in the types of air service development projects that can be funded. 

On June 30, the Department issued an order setting a deadline of July 31 for applications. As 

these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits of any 

particular proposal. I assure you, however, that the Department will give full and fair 

consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. 

As is our standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT -OST-20 14-0113 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Sincerely yours, 

Sus an L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
The Honorable Anthony R Foxx 

Secretary 

US Depattment ofTransportation 

Washington DC 

July 28,2014 

Subject; Momoe Regional Airport's application for funding under the Small Community Ail' 

Service Development Program fur 2014, 

Dear Secretary Foxx, 

I am writing to express my strong support for the applications submitted by the Monroe Regional 

Airport in Louisiana, for funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(SCASDP). The Monroe Regional Airport has submitted this application to help secure low~cost, 

non-stop jet service to one or more major destinations for Northeastern Louisiana, Sottthern 

Arkansas, and Western Mississippi. 

As you know, the Monroe regional Airport is an important local and regional community 

economic engine in Louisiana. Federal funding under The Small Community Air Service 

Development Program will go a long way in helping expand jet service to more destinations in 

the United States from the Monroe Regional Airport such as a new route fi:om Monroe to 

Denver. 

Once again, 1 supp01t the Monroe regional airports application under the small community air 

service development program. I respectfully request your full and fair consideration this 

proposaL Thank you. 

With re;;pect, 

~··~).v Julv C~eland, lOM 

President 

Ruston-lincoln Chamber of Commerce 

2111 North Trenton St. 

Ruston, LA 71270 

2111 North Trenton Street"' Ruston * LA* 71270 *318·2.55-2031 * www.rustonlincoin.org