U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary ofTransportation 

# SEP 11 2014
Ms. Susan Whitaker Commissioner Assistant Secretary



### Tennessee Department ofTourist Development Tennessee Tower Building, 25th 

### Floor 312 Rosa 

### L. Parks Avenue Nashville, TN 37243 DearMs. Whitaker: 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington. DC 20590



### Thank you for yourletter, addressed to Secretary Foxx, supporting the proposal submitted by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority for a grant underthe U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram. Secretary Foxx asked that I respond to youonhis 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. Underthe statute, the Departmentmay make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more thanfour 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 inthe types ofair service developmentprojects that can be funded. On June 30, the Department issued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 31 for applications. As these grantrequests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you, however, thatthe Department 

### will give full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed. As is our standard practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2014-0113 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours, 

# (i/liJZ;;J/
Susan 

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs

## TENNESSEE DEPARTJ\tlENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT WILLIAM 8NODGRASSfrENNESSEE TOWER BUILDING, 25TH FLOOR, 312 ROSA l. PARKS AVENUE, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243 615-741-9001

SUSAN HINCHCLIFF WHITAKER COMMISSIONER August 20, 2014
The Honorable Anthony Foxx Secretary United States Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 RE: Docket DOT-OST-2014-0113 Dear Secretary Foxx: BILL HASLAM GOVERNOR

I am writing you to encourage the Department's approval ofthe application ofthe Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and the Competitive Airfare Partnership underthe 2014 Small Community Air Service Development Grant program. Average airfares at Knoxville have historically been well-above the national average. These high airline fares have been a burden on local business, have stymied economic development, and have forced both local and visiting leisure travelers to either drive ornot travel at all. Knoxville's grant application seeksto address this issue by increasing airline competition at McGhee Tyson Airport. Ifthe grant application is approved, Knoxville will be able to recruit and provide startup marketing support for new low-fare airline service atour airport. The impact ofthe additional low-fare flights will be dramatic and immediate. Tourism is one ofTennessee's largest industries. Lower airfares will help make East Tennessee morecompetitive with othermajortourism destinations, and will allow more visitors to come experience our beautiful area. The economic impact oftourism growth will benefit all segments ofthe local economy. I hope that the Department will help the entire East Tennessee region reduce the cost ofairtravel for business and leisure travelers by approving Knoxville's Small Community Air Service Development Grant application. Sin7,

# ~~rt- Susan Whitaker

www.T.'lvm:ation.com