### U.S. Department of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary ofTransportation



### . The Honorable Ralph 

### A. Infante

Mayor ofNiles Niles, OH 44446

DearMayor Infante: Assistant Secretary 

### July 3, 2012 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590



### Thank you for your letter addressed to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal submittedby the**Youngstown~**

### Warren Regional Airport for a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small CommunityAir Service Development Program. The Secretaryhas requested that I**respo~d** 

### onhis 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. Underthe statute, the Departmentmay make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than 4 awards may be to communities inthe same State. In orderto provide communities with latitude indeveloping solutions totheir air service deficiencies, the statute provides flexibility inthe types ofprojects that canbe funded.
OnMay 15, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested inreceiving a grant this year file their applications by June 11. As these grantrequests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofanyparticularproposal. I assure youthatthe Department will give.full and fair considerationto all proposals thathave beenproperly filed.
As is our normal practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2012-0069 as a contactoutside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program. Sincerely yours,

Susan 

### L. Kurland Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs\\'i!!iilrn f\ld(inlcy, 2Sth l'rcskkni of !.he United**Sia!e~,** Born in NilesJ<mt:wry '29, 1843

June 5, 2012

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary ofTransportation U.S. Department ofTransportation 400 7th Street, SW Room 6401 Washington, DC 20590 

# Office ofthe Mayor Ralph A. Infante

# IMayor City ofNiles, Ohio City Building 

## I 34West StateStreet 

## I Niles, Ohio 44446 Telephone: (330) 652-341? "

### (3~0) 540-4597 E-Mail: Mayor@thecityofmles.com**®~4n**

Re: Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport Small CommunityAir Service Development Program Grant Application Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069

Dear Secretary LaHood,

.. I am writing to respectfully express my support behalf of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and the Airport's grant application for funding under the Smau·community Air Service Development Program. I feel that ifthis grant application is successful it is just one step closer to enhancing our Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and supplying commercial air service to the Youngstown-Warren-Sharon metropolitan service area.
During the past 15 years, the Airport has received in excess of $60 million from federal, state and local government agencies for capital improvements. The local community has formed a vital partnership of governments and private organizations and businessE:s through the creation of the Western Reserve Port Authority, which owns and manages the Airport. Although the community is strongly supportive ofthe Airport, the lack of competitive pricing and quality air services has now caused the Airport to be underutilized and has resulted in the 800,000 residents of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania to drive Cleveland or Pittsburg for their travel needs. In addition, larger airports now require an additional one to tow hours for air



### ,**S10~120612-013** 

### ; 

# Niles o 

# Where flistory 

# LivesCant: Letter ofSupport Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport

travelers to secure parking and check through security systems. The success of other regional airports such as Akron-Canton clearly demonstrates that there is a viable place for small to midsize airports in the aviation industry. With the assistance ofthis grant the Airport would be able to offer superior air service at lower costs to the community and would contribute greatly to securing the future ofour airport.

As Mayortothe City of Niles and memberto the Western Reserve Port Authority, Ifeel that it is imperative that our Airport is successful in securing funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport is vital to our community and Economic Development, and with the wide unemployment in North-Eastern, Ohio it is greatly imperative to retain funding for our local Airport.

The City of Niles supports and appreciate your positive consideration ofthe proposal for a Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and the community itserves.

Respectfully,

# ~~ Ralph A. Infante Mayor, City of Niles, Ohio