### •· •• , '· ,.. ., f •••••• ASSIGNMENT DOWNTOWN COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL GREEN BUSINESS COUNCIL GOVER.NMEf'I:TAL I.SSl:J.ES COUNCIL .lf\IT.ERt-JATIONAL 'BUSLNESSCOUNCIL

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## '?tlice of Ayiation**~lYsis** . . . . . . . . . .· . 1200'New;J.ersey**Av~** •.**~E, W8~;310**  

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...**~..,.._.,,.,., """"'~\~...,** **~-** . · ... ·Re: Small**Co~unity** AiJ:'**,S~ice. D~~lopment.P.~gram** 

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. ·. . . . . ·**Sarasot~** Braoenton lhtern:attonal 

### Airport (SRQ}

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### Dear Ms. 

### Ley:**-~('** ' LEADERSHIP SARASOTA COUNTY MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS & EVENTS COUNCIL SMALL. BUSINESS COUNCIL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP WORKFORCE INNOVATION & TALENT DEVELOPMENT

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I am writing as President, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, to express our strOng support for the above referenced grant application to the Small Community 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 201 L

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.. , ..... :·**~ ~-** **~** ., .. .• : Sa.rasotfi**J:lradenron~also** suffers'froin' 

# a lack' ofacce8s to 

### a westbound airline gateway. 'This forces local
consumers to

### dri~e to. other

### afl,:l~~s~'ihet;ebyinflicti?fJ~~omic damage on

### tb~ local economy.
A**19~1:-Economic** Impact Study completed as part of the SRQ Master Plan Update revealed that 57% of 1U enplapements at .SRQ were.out 

### of area visitors spending 

### an average of $665.00 

### per visit. Using the CY. 20U AirTran pas$enger traffic, this equates to 102,600 visitors to the SRQ area. When combined ·.vith**the.-~00,000** passengers lost due to no westbound**service~ t~is**  equates to a loss of over $105,000,0QO of direcfvisitor expenditures· 

### annually. When the multiplier effect 

### is factored in, it equates 

# to a ·loss of



### . nearly $285#0.00,000 of economic impact and**2~600** 

### jobs to the area. t,i _l:•l .1 'The community is partnering with the airport to matchthe grant funds dollar for dollar on this critical '11tltter. Vve ask the Department consider the serious negative effects the recent approval provided to**~")outhwest** Airlines to acquire AirTran Airways has had on our community and approve the application i()r assistance. l11an.k you for your consideration. Sincerely,**(~c:** 

### rhe Honorable Ray H. LaHood 'ecretary of Transportation**.~::iced** States Department of Transportation

.(10-New Jersey Avenue, S.E.**·vashingto~** DC 20590

1945 Fruitville Road , Sarasota, FL 34236 941-955-8187

. Fax 941-366-5621 www.sarasotachamber.com