Q 

U S. Departmen t o f /''^'r'r]ncn)!rff<i;c 1200 New jersey Avenue, SE ;ORTAT!0 

IVcinsportation • .:i Ur'trv'JIUK ^ Washington, DC 20590 

Off ice Of the Secretary 

of Transportation .il 'EP -'9 P 2^ 32 

SEP 2 1 2011 

The Honorable George Dunbar 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives 

Jeannette, PA 15644 

Dear Mr. Dunbar: 

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 Commimity 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, 

hi 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 cannot 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. 

Suicerely yours. 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Commimity Program 
^o< ^ 

GEORGE DUNBAR, MEMBER 

56TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 

Penn Township Office 

Pine Center, Suite 4 

2090 Harrison Avenue (Route 130) 

Jeannette, PA 15644 

Phone: (724) 744-0305 

North Huntingdon Office 

12591 Route 30 

North Huntingdon, PA 15642 

Phone: (724) 863-1585 

COMMITTEES 

Gaming Oversight 

Finance 

Local Government 

State Government 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Harrisburg 

July 18, 2011 

Aloha Ley 

Small Community Air Service Development Program, X-55 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

Dear IVIs. Ley: 

It is my pleasure to offer my support to the Westmoreland County Airport Authority's request 

for financial subsidy through the US Department of Transportation's Small Community Air 

Service Development Program. It is my understanding the funds will be used to expand the 

scheduled air service that has shown exceptional potential at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. 

The Authority has seen remarkable achievement with the launch of Spirit Airlines service to Ft. 

Lauderdale, FL and Myrtle Beach, SC, attracting more than 30,000 passengers through Arnold 

Palmer Regional in less than five months. Load factors have proven unmatched at the airport, 

with averages being 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 the tried and true marketing efforts that the airline 

has proven successful. Grant funding through the SCASD program is critical to supporting these 

efforts to expand service and bolster a priceless economic asset to the communities the airport 

serves. 
Your favorable review of the application would be greatly appreciated. If you have further 

questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call my office. 

Sincerely, 

George S Dunbar 

Member, PA House of Representatives 

GSD/lrz