THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Schumer: 

August 22, 2013 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Ithaca Tompkins Regional 

Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

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 four 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 June 24, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a 

grant this year file their applications by July 26. 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 standard practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record of this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this program. 

Sincerely, 

Anthony R. Foxx 

. ··-, 
CHARLES E. SCHUMER 

Nl!'WYQAk 

The Honorable Anthony Foxx 

Secretary 

U.S. D~partment of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Wrushlngton, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary: 

itrd· 

WASHINGTON, DC 20510 

July 12, 2tn3 

f3ANK!NG 

DEMOCRATIC POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS 

FINANCE 

' JUDICIA~Y 

RULE'S 

I am pleased to write in support of the application from the Ithaca Tompkins Regioual 

Airport for funding through the Small Community A it Service Development G1·am Progratn. 

Su.ch funding will allow the Airpott to expand its service offerings and continue its positive 

impact on the region's economy. 

The.local economy ofithaca and Tompkins Cmmty, housing Cornell University, Ithaca 

College and Tompkins Cortland Community College, is overwhelmingly centered on the 

educational sector. Each ofthese entities serves interests that stretch beyond state and national 

boundaries to the farthest reaches of the globe. These educational institutions have also become 

known for grcrwing high~ tech and advanced manufacturing components that rely on having a 

means of rapid transportation to reach their customers, suppliers and investors. The nearest 

interstate highway is over 20 miles away, reinforcing the significance of the Airp01t and the 

transportation options it provides. 

With funding, the Airport will expand its air service offerings and re~establish customer 

loyalty by providing more non~stop destinations to less congested ai1ports, encouragiug the 

community to use tlns local facility. In a world of global competition, easy access to the world 

market has become an essential element for success. Expanding its services will have a positive 

impact on the community and the regional economy) and I applaud Ithaca Tompkins Regional 

Airport for its fore:,sight. I sincerely hope the application meets with your approval. 

Thank you for your consideration. For additional infom1ation, please to do not hesitate to 

contact me or my Grants Director, Marissa Emanuel, in my Washington office at 202-224-6542. 

Sincerely, 

Charles E. Schumer 

United States Senator