810-110722-011 

COUNTY OF AUGUSTA, VA. 

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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 

LARRY C. HOWOYSHELl GERALD W. GARBER 

North River Middle River 

TRACY C. PYLES, JR. WENDELL L COLEMAN 

Pasture! JEREMY M. SHIFFLETT Wayne 

Beverley Manor 

NANCY TAYLOR SORRELS DAVID E. BEYLER ^'"^mSm.^ ^ PATRICK J. COFFrELD - COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 

Riverheadj South River AUGUSTA COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 

P.O. BOX 590, VERONA, VA 24482-0590 

(540) 245-5610 FAX (540) 245-5621 

coadmin@co.augusta.va.us 

11-087 

July 13, 2011 

Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

I am writing to you today on behalf of the County of Augusta, which is one of the five 

membership jurisdictions that created the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission. 

We strongly support the Grant Application before the Department of Transportation by the 

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

We value the many benefits of our regional airport and have invested significantly in its 

development over the years. The Airport is critical to the economic vitality of our region 

and its future. Our community was dramatically impacted in the months and years 

following September 11, 2001. Prior to 2001 our community had proven that given the 

viable and economical access, it can sustain unsubsidized air service. 

Recently our incumbent air carrier, Colgan Air, introduced United Express service to 

Washington Dulles International Airport. This new service has brought greatly improved 

fares along with improved connectivity for our passengers. Colgan also upgraded the 

aircraft used in the market. This represents the first substantive improvement in our 

service in many years. 

Initial response to this change has been very favorable; however, our challenge as a 

community is to communicate this improvement in air service, fares and equipment. To 

overcome the past seven years of less than desirable service, an aggressive, sustained 

marketing campaign is needed to adequately communicate this positive change. The 

cost of implementing such a program exceeds available local resources. 
SI 0-110722-011 

Ray LaHood 

July 13. 2011 

Page 2 

Should the Department of Transportation award a grant to the Shenandoah Valley 

Regional Airport Commission, we feel strongly that it would result in improved 

passenger traffic, increased revenue for the carrier and lessen or possibly eliminate our 

community's reliance for subsidy under the Essential Air Service Program. 

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this application. 

Jeremy L. Shifflett 

Chairman 

PJC/jts 

cc; Augusta County Board of Supervisors 

Patrick J. Coffield, County Administrator 

Greg Campbell, Executive Director, Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 
SI 0-110802-006 

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 

OF THE 

COUNTY OF AUGUSTA, VIRGINIA 

18 Government Center Lane 

P. O. Box 590 

Verona, Virginia 24482 

(540) 245-5017 

(540) 245-5096 (Fax) 

July 22,2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretaiy of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretaiy LaHood: 

In your consideration of the pending grant application before the Department of Transportation by the 

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission under the Small Community Air Service Development program, 

please allow this letter to serve as our endorsement and unanimous support on behalf the Industrial Development 

Authority of Augusta County, Vii^inta. 

The Shenandoah Valley Airport remains vital to Augusta County's future economic growth and enhances 

the County's role in promoting economic development. While Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport has been 

proactive in promoting their services, an ongoing campaign is vital to the continued education of the community. 

With notnA census reports indicating double digit growth throughout the community, a large percentage of that 

growth is reflective of residents migrating to the Shenandoah Valley. The education of these new citizens is of 

paramount importance to increasing the ridership at SHD. Even though the Airport has faced some difficuh 

challenges, it continues in striving to provide die community with improved fares and connectivity for passengers. 

Colgan Air has introduced United Express service to Washington Dulles International Airport along with an upgrade 

of the aircraft providing the service. While these changes have been met very favorably by our community, in order 

to totally recover firom previous years of less than desirable service, an extensive marketing campaign is needed to 

promote the improvements in air service. Unfortunately, there are no available local resources to cover the costs. 

We strongly support the application cf the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission and its 

efforts to enhance the travel options for the citizens of the Shenandoah Valley. A successful award to this 

community would be investment well managed and implement in the spirit of the program providing long term 

benefits to the community. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely yovp, 

Dennis Burnett 

Economic Development Director