0~f^ARTMENTOF 

v^NSPORWION 

S.. . I OPERATIONS 

u 'ff/ i 

Li P 7} 5M 

riic lli'iinr.iMo Rii> I aid'nil 

Sccrci.iry ot 1 r<tn.spi>ri,iti.iii 

r.S. Dt'pariiiioiU ot'I rans|>i>ri;iiiiMi 

\ m f Slavl. S\V . Woshinyloii IX 2(15^0 

Dear Sctri'laiA I alloml: 

I am writing Ui express ni> oryani/iitioii's strong support rorllif t'.vansville ke(>ti>iiiil 

Airport's Small (•omnuinit\ Air Service Dovetopincnt (iram <SC'ASI)Cil (uiuliiii: roijuosi. 

Tlw Cliamhcr oCComnierco ot'Souihwcsi Imliaim is ttie largest Imsiiicss iissotiiilioii in 

the tri-siate region oCSuiithwcsl Indiana. Nonlmesi Komucky. and Southeast Illinois 

()ur ChainlHT represenis the needs and interests ol'niore lli;in 1.600 member uMiipanies 

riie iri-stale region is an economic powerhouse: our rt'gion has annual retail sdes ot S7.1 

billion dollars, contains 10.154 square miles of latid. which makes it larger tlwn nine 

states, has a population ol'more than t{22.000. is lio\ne lv> sis U.S. Congressional distiiils. 

and Kiasts more than S24 billion dollars in personal income. We iu-e also one ot'ihe most 

important mantitaciiiring centers in the nation. 

In order to vigorously compete in the global marketplace, we need your help. 1 he 

l;\atis\ille Regional Airpori plays a key role In connecting our region lo the rest oltiie 

nalicui. ami llic world. But lor maiw vears. our airport has been saddle<l with high 

average air tares. .As ii mattei ol tact, l;\nnsville Regional .Xirpiin has the highest 

average air fares in llie (ireal Lakes region, inaking Fvan.sville the single mo.si e.spensi\e 

rnediuni-si/ed market iti fly in to or out of in ihe fircat Lakes region. ,'Vs of the end of the 

lirsi quarter in "lOlO. I.vansvilles air fares averaged S325 each way. and S450 per round 

trip. 

Lveryone undersiamls how critically important an airport is to developing a cuiumimitv 's 

or region's economy. Ihc albrementioned costly fares .seriously hamper our ability to 

develop our economy and create the desirable, good paying jobs our cili'/ens need and 

deserve. We have made great progre.w in our region in terms of lay ing a Ibundatioii for 

successfully comjietiiig in the global ecoiuvmy. We have strcngttiened our public .schools, 

and are using our public and private universities and colleges as economic catalysts and 

important parttters to improve our workforce. We have enlianced our regions overall 

quality of life through a myriad of community development investments. We are 

upgrading (uir other means of moving people and material, inclttding commencitig the 

constriiclion of Interstate 6*) linking I'vansville to htdianapoHs. and tlie greater northJUL HsiC«.. Suds IGl 4 t»K.M(te. !K «7JaS • (MioMmlJ HJi 8i<1 

Evansville Regional Airport - Small Community Aii Service Dovelopment Grant - August 2010 27 
w / . 

Svuuh inicrnaiional trade corridor connecting the I inited Stales wiih Canada. Mexico, and 

much more, liui frankly, our airport remains a weak link We arc losing business and 

pleasure travelers to other airports due to exist tiiclors. And companies looking to 

c.-lablish lacililies in uur regi«)n coiilinuallv ciie Ihc co.si uf air (ravel oiil of Lvansv ille. 

and the lack 111 conneciivilv lo other niarkcls as a significant concern. 

Our situation could potentiallv worsen this liiH. as Delia .\ir Lines, following its merger 

w ilh S'ortliucsl. has announced il will leave Ihe Lvnnsv ille-Memphis inarkei. This loss 

ofseats will exacerbate the fare pressure in tin- Lvansville tnarkel Ihe F'vansvillc 

Regional .Airpon must act lo bring lower fates lo the regioti. 

It is our undersianding thai low fare leader .Air/ran lias expressed interest in serving the 

l-vansville market. In order lor .AirTrau to lake a risk in launching service to a new city 

in the curretit econotiiic eitv ironmeni, it will require a revenue guarantee to offset 

potential losses during the .slart-up plia.se. The SC.ASIXi would provide the Lvaitsville 

Regional .Airport with the seed capital necessary lo entice ,Air Iran to bring new air 

service to our market. 

i hank you for vour strong consideration of tlK Lvansville Regiotial .Airjmris SCASDG 

funding r«|uesl. We sincerely hope for a favorable decision from the Departiiienl ol 

Transportation, and look forward to partnering with you on improving air service to our 

rcgktn. and .sltenglhening our regional economy. 

Matthew T. Meadors 

President ft (IX) 

Ihe Chamber of Conunercc of Southwest Indiana (CCSWIN) 

Cc: IXiugJoe.st. Interim Director. Lvansville Regional Airpori 

l-vaii Heck. Chairman, CCSVVIN Board of Directors 

lelTlX'ig. Incoming Chairman. CCSWIN Board of Directors 

Greg Walhen. Presidetii.'{T-0. Hconomic Developinent Coalition of Southwest IN 

Steve Schaefer. Vice President Public Policv. CCSWIN 

Evansville Regional Airport - Small Community Air Service Development Grant - August 2010 28