U.S. Department ofTransportation Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation

The Honorable Susan Combs Texas Comptroller ofPublic Accounts Austin, TX 78711-3528 DearMs. Combs: Assistant Secretary 

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## 22 2013 2 1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE Washington. DC 20590

Thank you for your letter, addressed to Secretary Foxx, supporting the proposal submitted by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. Secretary Foxx has asked that I respond to you 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, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four 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 June 24, the Department issued an orderrequesting that communities interested in receiving a grant this year file their applications by July 26. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, Icannot comment on the 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 our standard practice, I am placing acopy ofyour letter and this response in Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as acontact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program.
Sincerely yours,

Susan L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International AffairsTEXAS COMPTROI...LE.R

July l81 2013

Mr. Anthony Foxx Secretary U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200New Jersey Ave,, SE Washington, D.C. 2059'0 

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RE: Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram; Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, CFDA Number 20.930, for TylerPounds Regional Airport (TYR) Dear Secretary Foxx: Iam pleased to offermy support to TylerPounds Regional Airport's application for a grantfrom the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service DevelopmentPilot Program. The Tylermetropolitan area is a rapidly growing hub for economic development in Northeast Texas. The community has become amagnetfor highereducation, research and development and medical services. The improvements in air service that would result from this grantwould help accelerate economic growth throughout the region and attract additional high-wage employers. Overthe years, Tylerhas demonstrated a strong iocnl commitmentto improving TylerPounds Regional Airport,s facilities. The communityhas leveraged local, state and federal funds to construct anewpassenger terminal and numerous runway and safety improvements, A

### grant from the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program will help the city promote this world·class regional airport facility and assure that it is utilized to its maximum capacity to benefit the people ofNortheast Texas. Ihope that Tyler Pounds Regional Airport's appUcation will be given utmost consideration for this grant. The improved airservice the program would facilitate will enhance mobility for the community's residents and increaseeconomic growth and opportunity throughouttheNortheast Texas region. Sincerely,

# M~ Susan Combs 

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