U.S. Department of Transportation Office ofthe Secretary OfTransportation

The Honorable Joe Donnelly United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Donnelly: 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20590

Thank you for your letter supporting the application submitted by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority for a grant under the U.S. Department ofTransportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. 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. Under the statute, the Department may make a maximum of40 grant awards each year, although no more than four awards 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 flexibility in the types ofprojects that canbe funded. On June 24, the Department issued an order setting a deadline ofJuly 26 for applications. As these grant requests are pending before the Department, I cannot comment onthe merits ofany particular proposal. I assure you that the Department will give full and fair consideration to all proposals that have been properly filed. As is our standard practice, I amplacing a copy ofyour letter and this response inDocket DOT-OST-2013-0120 as a contact outside the record ofthis matter. I appreciate your interest in this program.

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### j 1 1 SUITE 720 JOE DONNELLY INDIANA HART BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1406 (202) 224-4814 

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August 9, 2013 Brooke Chapman, Associate Director Small Community Air Service Development Program U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Ave, SE W86-310 Washington, DC20590 Dear Ms. Chapman, One ofmy top priorities in the Senate is to help foster an environment for economic growth. Because adequate transportation is essential for development, I support the FortWayne-Allen County Airport Authority (FWACAA) application for funding through the Small Community Air Service DevelopmentProgram. The'NOriheastlri.diaharegion has become a sought-after area for business development and company relocatiop.. Air service is a critical component ofsuccess for area businesses in a robust and**d;iire(s~,** econ,omy. SpeCifically, access to a northeast hub has never been more importantto the C:oi:nmunity whose ilir service needs have quickly outgrown the hub destinations available at Fort Wayne International Airport. In addition, the airport loses more than sixty percent ofits passenger traffic to nearby airports that have more nonstop destinations. The FW ACAA and FortWayne community are continuing their long-term air service development efforts withthe current effort to bring US Airways/American Airlines ser-vice to the Philadelphia International Airport.·The requested Small Community Air Service Development Program grant funds will be matched with significant local dollars that will be used for airline incentives to reduce the
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### ti:tis service. I encourage a favorable review ofthe FWACAAproposal, in accordance with U.S. law and public policy, in·orderto help Fort Wayne improve its access to the National Transportation System by attracting service-to Philadelphia onthenew

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