August 1,9!^ 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U. S. Department of Transportation 

400 7th Street, SW Room 10200 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

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On behalf of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to support Lakeland LInder 

Regional Airport's grant application for the Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. We share the Airport's mission of attracting low fare commercial service to the 

region to foster economic growth and improve quality of life options for the citizens in our community. 

The presence of a low fare carrier would play a pivotal role in the future growth of the City and County. 

Both the City of Lakeland and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have recognized the 

importance of the airport to the region. The City is investing more than $1.4 Million on infrastructure 

projects to prepare for commercial service. Additionally, the City provides police and fire services at no 

cost to the airport, saving over $450,000 annually from the rate base which carriers would otherwise 

have to pay. In August 2010, FOOT granted the airport $2 Million to fund the Improvements necessary 

to accommodate scheduled flight operations. These Improvements include ticketing areas, baggage 

claim, baggage make-up areas, sterile areas, the security checkpoint, access controls, CCTV, additional 

facility square footage, and offices for T.S.A. 

Lakeland LInder Regional Airport currently operates under a Part 139 Certificate and is completing its 

work with T.S.A. and will be in a position to launch its commercial program in early 2011. Low fare 

service to Lakeland would not only benefit our region, but also the small communities where the flights 

will operate, providing those cities with the economic benefit of stimulated air travel and lower airfares. 

The funds from the grant will be used exclusively at non-primary airports, where low fare carriers can 

capitalize on the lower infrastructure costs to permit lower fares for passengers. 

Lakeland Is situated between Orlando and Tampa and its location near Interstate i-4 and proximity to 

the future high speed rail system will enable easy access to and from the Airport, Ground transportation 

alternatives will be available to move air travelers to their final destination within Polk County, or it's 

neighboring Hillsborough and Orange Counties. Lakeland is less than an hour from either Tampa or 

from the major attractions in Orlando such as Disney World. Marketing money from the grant will not 

ACCREDITED 

• • • • • 

35 lAKl-MORTON URIVL | PO BOX 3607 | LAKELAND, FLORIDA 33802 360/ | P: (863) 688 8551 | L: (H63) 6837454 
The Honorable Ray LaHood 

August 19, 2010 

Page Two -

only be used to raise awareness about easy access from Lakeland to Orlando and Tampa, but also 

establish Polk County as a convenient and affordable area for tourists wanting to take advantage of both 

destinations. This will drive significant hotel, rental car, restaurant and attraction revenue for the 

region. 

Central Florida has been one of the hardest hit areas during this recession, and the increased traffic that 

the Air Service would bring to our region would be not only extremely beneficial to this Region, but also 

to the State through Increased tourist and business travel. We believe strongly in promoting Air Service 

to Lakeland Regional Airport and expect the economic, transportation and quality of life benefits tobe 

critically important to the recovery of the Region. 

Sincerely, 

Kathle'en L. Munson, 

President 

KLM:bb 

cc: Gene Conrad, Lakeland LInder Regional Airport 

Joe L. Ruthven, Chairman of the Board 

Jackie Johnson, Senior Vice President, Lakeland Convention & Visitors Bureau