U.S. Department of Transportation Ottice ofthe Secretary orTransportation

i'vlr. David Gantt
. Chairman Buncombe County COtllJ1iissioners 205 College Street Suite 300 Asheville, NC 2880I Dear

### Mr. Gantt: Assistant Secretary

July 3, 2012

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### ..**~**......1ZOO New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigncd by your colleagues, addn:ssed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal for direct tlight service to Denver, Colorado from Asheville for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Secretary has requested that I respond on his behalf. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address i1ir service dcticiencies, particularly issues related 

### to high airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a muxinuun of40 gmnt awards each year, although no more than 4 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 tlexibility in the types ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Dei)<irtn1cJ1t issLted an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June II. As these grant requests arc pending before the Department, I cannot comment on the merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and nlir consideration to all proposals that have been properly tiled. As is our normal practice. l am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-20 12-0069 as a comact outside the record orthis matter. I apprc'ciate your interest in this program. An identical letter has been sent to each ofyour colleagues. Sinccrclv Yours.



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.../ Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and lnkrnational Affairs .**·~.**U.S.Departmentof 1'ransportcrHon OffrceoftheSecretary ofTransportation



### Mr. Bill Stanley Vice Chainnan ';**·-··~·.:·**

Buncombe County Commissioners-· 205 College Street Suite 300 Asheville,NC 28801 DearMr. Stanley:**As~isiant** Secretary
.

July 3, 2012 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thankyou for yourletter, cosigned by your colleagues, addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal for·direct flight service to Denver, Colorado from Asheville for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Secretary has requested that Irespond 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 or insufficient service. Under the statute,**th~** Department may**make~** maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 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 ofprojects that can be funded. On May 15, the Department iSsued an order requestingthatcommunities interested in receiving a grimt this year flle their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, Icannot comment on the merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is ournonnal practice, Iam placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as acontact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. An identical letterhas been sent to each ofyour colleagues. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs· 

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# f' ··U.S.Depcirtment

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Transportation Oftlce

### ottheSecretary otTransportation
Mr. K. Ray Bailey Commissioner Buncombe County Commissioners 205 College Street Suite 300 Asheville, NC 28801 Dear Mr. Bailey: Assistant Secretary
July 3, 2012 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by yourcolleagues, addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal for direct flight service to Denver, Colorado from Asheville for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The SecretarY has requested that Irespond 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 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 in the 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 IS, the·Department issued an order requesting that communities interested·irrreceiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grant requests are pending ·before the Department, Icannot comment on the merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is ournoqnal practice, Iam placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as acontact outside the record ofthis matter. Iappreciate your interest in this program. An identical letter has been sent to each ofyour colleagues. ·

, Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs



### ...US.Deparrmentof Transportation OffiCeoftheSecretary ofTransportation

Ms. Holly Jones Commissioner Buncombe County Commissioners 205 College Street Suite 300 Asheville, NC 28801 DearMs. Jones: Assistant Secretary

July 3, 2012 _ .. ,

..: 4. ·. · .....

. , ....- ;· 1200 NewJersey Avenue, Sf Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by your colleagues, addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal for direct flight service to Denver, Colorado from Asheville for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air SerVice Development Program. The Secretary has requested thatIrespond on his behalf. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communiti.es address air service.**de(i9ie~cies,_particularly** issues related to high airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make

# a maxiimini.of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the 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 pending before the Department, Icannot comment on the merits.ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed.

. t '**~** ;**~** '**~** ' As is our normal practice, Iam placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as acontact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. An identical letter has been sent to each ofyour colleagues. Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs. U.S.Departmentof Transportation OfficeoftheSecretary otTransportation

Ms. Carol Peterson Commissioner 

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Buncombe County Commissioners
. 205 College Street Suite 300 Asheville, NC 28801 Dear Ms. Peterson: . 

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. Assistant Secretary

July 3, 2012**'~.** ·. 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, cosigned by yourcolleagues, addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal for direct flight service to Denver, Colorado from Asheville for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Secretary has requeste4 that Irespond on his behalf. The Small Community Air Service Development Program was established to help smaller communities address air service deficiencies, particularly issues related to hifih airfares or insufficient service. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities in the 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 

### ·Is, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by June 

### II. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, Icannot comment on the merits ofany particularprpposal. I assure you that the 9epartment 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. Iappreciate your interest in this program. Anidentical letter has been sent to each ofyour colleagues. · · Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs\.

. ..•. • BUNCOMBE

# ~~~H~~oT.!**~- CUYt~NMCNl**  

### Buncombe County 

### Commissioners David Gantt. Chairman Bill Stanley, Vice-:Chairman Carol Weir Peterson, Commissioner K. Ray Salley, Commissioner

HollyJones, Commissioner

June 6, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary US Dept ofTransportation 400 7th Street, SW Room 10200 Washington, DC. 20590. · Dear Mr. LaHood: The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners is in support of direct flight service to Denver, Colorado from Asheville. We understand from recent travel data, that Denver is the most frequented destination for Buncombe County travelers without direct service

. available and would serve as a significant new gateway to the western states from

Asheville. We believe that direct service to Denver would enhance the quality of life for our residents and strengthen our regional capacity to attract and retain world-class corporate citizens. This direct flight will be a great service to some ofour most recent corporate citizens who have home offices located in Denver

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# . We**whol~heartedly** support· direct flightservice to Denver from Asheville and hope to hear very soon that it has become a reality. Sincerely,

# '}?~~ David Gantt,

. Chairman

# K~~~ K. Ray Bailey Commissioner 

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# <L//**·aiiiSt~nley, ~**  Vice Chairman 

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Commissioner Carol Peterson Commissioner

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