o 

lyonspOrtoHo n .- ^l^7^.^r•,-• • 

Office Of The Secretary 

of TransporloTion 

OCT 2 2 2010 

The Honorable Johnny Isakson 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Isakson: 

Thank you for your letter addressed to Heideh Shahmoradi, supporting the proposal 

submitted by the Savannah Airport Commission for a grant under the Small Community 

Air Service Development Program (Small Community Program). I am responding as the 

Small Community Program falls under my office. 

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 properly 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 

fi-ee to call me. 

incerely yours, 

Jusan L. Kurland 

'Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
JOHNNY ISAKSON 

Xi.|(K)g|S-(K) 4 

'.•'.--••»- . . ••.. O C :Ci? t o mnjtcd States Senate 

WASHINGTON. DC TOSlO 

August 26, 2010 

COMMERCE, SCl£.'-;CE 

AND TRAN'iPORTATlON 

L.'.fiOfl, AND PENSIONS 

. • - • ML( . .vNi ' .;•••".. - -••.. 

VETERANS'AFFAiEIS 

Ms. Heideh Shahmoradi 

Acting Dcputi,- Assistant Secrecan" for Governmental .\ttaij-s 

L'.S. Department ot Transportation 

1200 New )ei',scy Avenue. SIZ 

W'asliington. DC 205DO 

Dear Ms. Shahmor.idi: 

I am wridug in support of the Sa\'finn:ih .\irporf Coinmission's application tor ttie 

Small Communit)- .\ir Service Development Piogram Grant administered by the L'.S. 

Dcparmicnt ot'Transportation. 

Funding trom this grant is particularly important to Savannah/Hikon Vlead 

Inteniational Airport by attracting affordable air service to die cfMiiniunit)-. 'Hiese rravcl 

needs simply are not being met today. Tlie presence of a low-fare carrier at the Airport 

would play a ma)or role in sarisfj^ing the needs of the community and benefit both Georgia 

and South Carolina. 

In respect for your policies niitl procedures, I rtcjuesr rliat you give the Savanniib 

Airport Commission )oiir tiiU consideration for tJiis grant. I wouJd appreciate you keeping 

us informed of tliis application and any awards made Uiider liiis ftindinj; ride. If you have 

any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my j:»ranc director, Kar\' McF.ver at C^70) 

661 -0999. 

Thank vou in advance for vout consideration. 

SELECT COMMITTEE CN ETHICS 

.>MMLL BUSINESS AND 

Sincerely yours. 

nited Stiies Senate 

[Hl/kem