U.S.Departmentof Transportation OfficeoftheSecretary ofTransportation



### Mr. Robert P. Bartz

. President Manatee Chamber ofCommerce P.O. Box 321 Bradenton, FL 34206-0321 Dear Mr. Bartz: 

## JUL 52012**~** .: ,· 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

.. .**~·** . 

### Thank you for your letter supportingthe proposal

### s~bmitted by the SarasotaBradenton International Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small CommunityAir Service DevelopmentProgram. 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.inthe

### s~~e State. In orderto provide communities with latitude in developing solutions to their air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe 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 grantrequests are pending beforethe Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particularproposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is ournormal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,

# M4~ Aloha Ley Associate Director Small Community Program**~··-.** .

June 20, 2012 Ms. Aloha Ley Office ofAviation Analysis 1200 New JerseyAve., SE, W86-310 Washington, DC 20590 Re: Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069 Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) DearMs. Ley: Strengthening YourBusiness and Our Community National Chamber ofthe Year Three-Time Winner Florida Chamber ofthe Year U.S. Chamber 5-StarAccredited

I am writing as the President ofthe.· Manatee Chamber of Commerce to express our strong support for the above referenced grant application to the Small Commlinity Air Service Development Program. The recent decision by Southwest Airlines to pull AirTran service from SRQ is a major blow to the air service and economic competitiveness of the entire region served by Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. AirTran accounted for over 360,000 passengers or nearly 30% of all passenger traffic at SRQ in 2011. Sarasota Bradenton also suffers from a lack of access to a westbound airline gateway. This forces local consumers to drive to other airports, thereby infJicting economic damage on the local economy. A 1997 Economic Impact Studycompleted as part of the SRQ Master Plan Update revealed that 57% of all enplanements at SRQ were out of area visitors spending an average of $665.00 per visit. Using the CY 2011 AirTran passenger traffic this equates to 102,600 visitors to the SRQ area. When combined with the 100,000 passengers lost due to no westbound service this equates to a loss of over $105,000,000 of direct visitor expenditures annually. When the multiplier effect is factored in it equates
· ·to 

### a loss of nearly $285,000,000 ofeconomic impactand 2,600jobs to the area. The community is partnering with the airport to match the grant funds dollar for dollar on this critical matter. We ask the Department consider the serious negative effects the recent approval provided to Southwest Airlines to acquire AirTran Airways has had on our community and approve the application for assistance. Thank you for your consideration.

Cc: The Honorable Ray H. LaHood Secretary ofTransportation United States Department ofTransportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20590

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