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ULS.Depanmentof 

Transportation 

Office of the Secretary SEP 2 0 2011 

of Transportation 

The Honorable Marcy Kaptur 

U.S. House of Representatives 

Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Congresswoman Kaptur: 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

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Thank you for your letter supporting the proposal submitted by the Toledo-Lucas County 

Port Authority for a grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

(Small Community Program). 

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 fiinds 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 caimot 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 fiirther information or assistance, please feel 

fi-ee to call me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Program 
o"MiTTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 

Subcommittee on Defense 

Subcommittee on Transpoitation, l-fl!D, 

^ and Related Agencies 

Subcommittee on AgricuiUire, 

Rural Development, 

FDA and Related Agencies 

COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET 

DEMOCRATIC STEERING AND POLICY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. oWA: 

MARCY KAPTUR 

9 T H DISTRICT, OHI O 

2186 Raybum Building 

Washington, DC 20515-3509 

(202)225-4146 

Fax:(202)225-7711 

OHIO OFFICE 

One Maritime Plaza 

6th Floor 

Toledo, OH 43604-1853 

(419)259-7500 

(800) 964-4699 

Fax:(419)255-9623 

http://kaptur.hou$e.gov 

July 29, 2011 

Aloha Ley 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development Program 

United States Department of Transportation 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Director Ley: 

I am writing on behalf of the Toledo Express Airport (TEA) and its application 

for a Small Community Air Service grant. As you may know the Toledo Express Airport 

has suffered from a significant decline in its air service over the past decade and airline 

capacity at Toledo Express is down more than 70% from 2003. 

TEA and its community partners would be able to attract new air service from 

Toledo Express to improve our region's air service needs with a favorable grant award. 

TEA and its partners will match the grant funding with significant local cash and in-kind 

matches. (TEA) has also developed a comprehensive new air service incentive program, 

including ground handling support and startup phase fee waivers. The combination of the 

grant supported marketing and promotional funding and the Airport developed incentive 

program will give Toledo the tools it needs to reverse the decline of local air travel 

options and re-establish some of the air service that has been lost in recent years. 

I support the Toledo Express Airport's application to the Small Community Grant 

Application and urge favorable consideration consistent with your agency's rules and 

regulations. Please contact me if you require additional information. 

Sincerely, 

MARCY KAPTUR 

U.S. Representative 

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