e ^'ARTMENTO^ 

iliPjKlIS!!?*** ' ^ : •'^=ftf!M'iU;^ ^ 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

^*«»H>OrtaWon ;V: i UPEriAiiUri o Washington, DC 20590 

Office of the Secretary 

ofTJcmspoilation -;;| r-p, -q o 9: 33 

SEP 2 1 2011 

The Honorable JD Alexander 

Florida Senator 

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 

Dear Mr. Alexander: 

Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Lakeland Linder 

Regional Airport for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development 

Program (Small Community Program). 

The Small Community Program was established to help smaller commimities 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 carmot 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. I appreciate your 

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

free to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
-y&o 

THE FLORIDA SENATE 

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 

SENATOR JD ALEXANDER 

17th District 

COMMITTEES: ' 

Budget, Chair 

Rules, Wee Ct\aii 

Agriculture 

Banking and Insurance 

Budget - Subcommittee on Finance and Tax 

Budget - Suljconimltiee on Transportation, Tourism, 

and Economic Development Appropriations 

Education Pre-K-12 

Rules - Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections 

JOINT COMMITTEE: 

Legislative Budget Commission, V/ce C/ia/r 

Ms. Aloha Ley, Association Director 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

U,S. Department of Transportation 

8'^Floor,RoomW86-310 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington D.C. 20590 

Dear Ms. Ley: 

Reference: Docket DOT-OST-2011-0119 

I support the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport request for the Small Community Air Service 

Grant. Lakeland Linder is the newest commercial air service airport in the nation and is an ultra 

low-cost airport perfectly positioned to afford tourists easy access to all of Central Florida, from 

Orlando and Disney World to St. Petersburg and the Gulf Coast beaches. Central Florida has 

been very hard hit by the 2008-2009 economic slowdown and tourists, and their economic 

impact, are critical to tlie Lakeland area's economic recovery. 

The application proposes funding to support Lakeland's partnership witli airlines on aggiessive 

marketing of new air service at the Aiiport. This Grant supported marketing fund will enable 

Lakeland to recruit and support critically needed new Central Florida air service which will bring 

more tourists and their economic impact to the region. 

Your favorable consideration of the Lakeland Grant application is greatly appreciated. 

Sincerely, 

J13 Alexander 

Senator, District 17 

REPLY TO: 

a 201 Central Avenue West, Suite 115. City Hall Complex. Lake Wales, Florida 33853 (863) 679-4847 

n 412 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (650) 487-5044 

Senate's Website: mwy.Asena/e.giov 

MIKE HARIOOPOLOS 

President of the Senate 

MICHAEL S. "MIKE" BENNETT 

President Pro Tempore