& 

TI^S^SM ^ Assistant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

iransportanon Washington, DC 20590 

Off ice Of the Secretary 

of Transportation 

September 9, 2011 

Mr. Carl Chapman ~~ 

Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer -9 ,, iv^ ':;^ 

Vectren Corporation .; o a ^ 

P.O. Box 209 "^ ??B ^ 

Evansville, IN 47702-0209 > f'^'^ 

-.9 SQ!~^ 

Dear Mr. Chapman: L^ ^^"~' 

Thank you for your letter to Secretary LaHood supporting the proposal submitted by the 

Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District for a grant under the Small 

Community Air Service Development Program (Small Community Program). The 

Secretary has asked that I-respond on his behalf 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller communities address air 

service deficiencies, particularly issues related to high airfares and insufficient service. 

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 1, the Department issued an order requesting that communities interested in 

receiving a grant this year file their applications by August 2. 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-2011-0119 as a contact outside the record of this matter. 1 appreciate your 

interest in this program. If I can provide further information or assistance, please feel 

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours. 

Susan L. Kurland 

Assistant Secretary for 

Aviation and International Affairs 
SI 0-1 !(!879-003 

\/C/~XDCIKI Vectren Corporation 

V Cv . I K C I N P.O Box20S 

L/Ve SfT\3ft Evansviile itidiana 47702-0209 

August 2, 2011 

Ttie Horrarable Ray LaHood 

Secretary of Transportation 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

400 T*" Street. S.W., Washir^on, DC 20590 

Dear Mr LaHood, 

I am writing to st^are my support for a Small Community Air Service Development grant 

application sutimitted by tlie Evansville-Vanderburgti Airport Aillxirity District A vibrant airport 

with good air service is important to business and caicial to 0\e tealttiy growth of ttie region In 

order to continue growing our regional economy, we need rt»re ^ident and frequent 

transportation in and out of the community. 

In recent yeais. the airlines tiave scaled tsack service in response to tlie recession, which has 

made everyday business travel very difficult. Our community has taken a very proactive approach 

to doing business irternationatty, but we are experiencing fewer and fewer flights in and otrt of 

Evarsvltle, making it hard for international visitors to come to our region The lack of availatde 

flints and limited numljer of carriers has also increased local fares to ttie point that people are 

drtvir^ two to three hours one way to fly out of other airports. 

This grant will allow our airport management to sell our community to new airlirtes, particularly 

withfl'n the Star Alliance, so ttiat v/e will show up on the international map. Adding a new carrier 

will also result in bringing fares down to a more marrageable level thus stimulating the local travel 

market I ttiank you for your thoughtful consideration of Ifiis worfriwhile request 

Sincerely, 

Carl Chapman 

Vectren Chairman, President & CEO