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TtalSSJtotS? ^ ^"''*°" * Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

iransportdtion Washington, DC 20590 

Office Of the Secretary 

of Transportation September 9, 2011 

The Honorable Melvin L. Holden 

Mayor-President of Baton Rouge 

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Baton CO •-nO ~ Rouge, LA 70821 ' ^^ -"^^-^ 

Dear Mayor-President Holden: -^ =-- • -r ^ ^ -

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Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal submitted b^h e -- ^ 

Greater Baton Rouge Airport District for a grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Community Program). The Secretary has asked that I 

respond on his behalf 

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. 

In order to provide conununities 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 commimities 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 

full 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 fiirther information or assistance, please feel 

fi"ee to call me. • — - -

Sincerely yours, -^ 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
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MELVJN L "KIP" irOLDEN 

Ma}'or-Presidem 

July 28,2011 

Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary, United States Department of Transportation 

400 Seventh Street, SW 

Room 10200 

Washington. DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing in support of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Authority's application to secure 

funding under the Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(SCASDP) for nonstop flights to Washington, DC. 

The Baton Rouge IMetropoiitan Airport is one of the economic pillars for the Baton Rouge area, 

providing the global air transportation that is vital for business development and trade. In 2010, the 

Baton Rouge Metro Airport experienced year-over-year enplanement growth of over 996, reversing a 

three-year decline in passenger enplanements. As the second largest city in Louisiana and the state 

capital, it is important that this growth be sustained as a catalyst to further economic development 

The Washington metro area is the third largest airline origin and destination (O&D) market for Baton 

Rouge, and the largest without nonstop service. Additionally, nonstop service from and to state capitals 

is particularly important Such a route has national and statewide importance, but Baton Rouge remains 

one of the largest state capitals without nonstop service. 

Beyond the importance of nonstop service for the state's capital, Washington flights are needed by 

virtually alt top employers in the Baton Rouge region. These include a number of Fortune 1000 

companies headquartered in Baton Rouge such as The Shaw Group and Mbemarle Corporation. The 

Baton Rouge area is a major factor in the petrochemical industry. ExxonMobil operates the 2nd largest 

refinery in North America here, and many other industry giants have production facilities in the region. 

Washington is also a top destination for the medical industry and area universities, including LSU and 

Southern University. 

ONE BATON ROUGE iS OETTER 
S]0-110<S26-00; 

Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

July 28,2011 

Page two 

It is my understanding that Baton Rouge to Washington service is under consideration by US Airways to 

Washington Reagan and United/COntinental to Washington Dulles. The addition of incentives through 

the Small Community Air Service Development Program could make the difference in securing this 

service for Baton Rouge. 

Given the significant economic benefits nonstop Washington flights will generate for Greater Baton 

Rouge, I appreciate your fevorabie consideration of the Airport Authority's SCASDP application. 

Sincerely, 

Melvin L "Kip" Holden 

Mayor-President