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ii2-.5SS:SKr'^ A«is,on, Secretory '^^,!:,Z'T2057^''' 

ThinsportaHon ^ 

Otfice of me Secretary 

ofTransporTofion 

OCT 2 2 20W 

The Honorable Mike Reese 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives --

Harrisburg,PA 17120 ;:: „.;^';; i^ 

Dear Mr. Reese: ^" —iS""'^ 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Westmorelan$]Coukty 

Airport Authority for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program (Small Community Program). 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. A 

total of $7 million will be available for grant awards in Fiscal Year 2010. 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 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 30, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 27. 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 properiy filed. 

As is our normal practice, I am placing a copy of your letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-2010-0124 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. 

Sincerely yours, 

)usan L. Kurlan 

Assistant Secretary for 

'viation and International Affairs 
\I-1()(IM3()-(I() S 

MIKE REESE, MEMBER 

50TH LEGISLAUVE DISTRICT 

D ROOM409.iRVI9 OFFICE BWUOINQ 

PO BOX 20Z0S9 

HARRieeURG, mi7120^5 9 

PHONE: (717) 7B3^t1 

FAX:(717)2«M50i 

D NORVEUT DISTRICT OFFICE 

2230 MOUNT PLEASAWT ROAD 

MOUMT PLEASAt^, PA ISBfiS 

PHONE: (724)423-6603 

FAX: (724)423-281% 

D DRYRIDGE DISTRICT OFFICE 

104 WHITE SCHOOL ROAO 

GREENSBURO,m 1G60t 

PHONE: (724) 837-M76 

FAX: {724} 832-5376 

O UOCmiER DISTRICT OFFICE 

120 EAST MAIN STTlEET. TOWN HAU 

UOONIER, PA ISeU 

PHONE: (724) 23B*:»1S5 

FAX: (724) 832-5361 

S{oT4se of 7i£presentatives 

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 

HARRISBURG 

COMMITTEES 

COMMERCE 

REPUBLICAN SECRETARY 

EDUCATION 

GAUINO OVERSIGHT 

CAUCUSES ,. 

COAL 

FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES 

August 19,2010 

Susan L Kurland 

AssistantSecretary for Aviation and Intemationa! Affairs, X-1 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Ms. Kurkland, 

I am writing to lend my support to Westmoreland County Airport Authority and Arnold Palmer Regional 

Airport. They are requesting grant funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small 

Community Air Service Development Program. 

In 2009, because of an unstable economy, the airport's lone commercial carrier ceased operating at the 

^dlity. This created a need amongst business and leisure travelers In our region. In addition, local 

governments and non-profit agencies In Western Pennsylvania have been worlclng hard to Improve the 

area's business dimate and (know that having a commercial airline operating In Westmoreland County 

win be a significant boost In that effort. 

Gabe Monzo, the airport authority's executive director, has been working with Vision Airlines to begin 

offering service to Orlando, Florida in 2010. In addition, he has also been speaking with Gulfstream 

International Airlines about developing The Pittsburgh Connector, an on-demand air taxi pilot program 

to Pittsburgh Internationai Airport. Grant funding through this program would implement the marketing 

for these projects. 

In short, your favorable review of this application would be greatly appreciated. Should you have any 

questions, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Harrisburg office at 717-793-9311 or In my 

Norvelt district office at 724^23-6503. 

Sincerely, 

'Qcnrocont'ifKf Representativa ^ e iVIIke Reese 

59*^ Legislative District