Okaloosa County BOCC — July 7, 2015 — Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: July 7, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Sunil Harman SUBJECT: Small Community Air Service Development Program Grant DEPARTMENT: Airport BCC DISTRICT: 2 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Board of County Commissioners (Board) is requested to approve the Department of Airports' preparation and submittal of an application U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant to incentivize new air-service at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. BACKGROUND: The SCASDP is a competitive grant program designed to provide financial assistance to small communities in order to address air service needs by offering funds for use as incentives to prospective airlines. The Department of Airports is requesting Board's approval to prepare and submit an application seeking a grant of $750,000 to recruit new competitive air service to increase consumer travel options. The grant application and supporting market and demand analytics will be prepared by Sixel Consulting Group under its Board approved contract at a reduced task cost of $12,500. This proposed scope of services is already specified in Sixel Consulting Group's Board approved contract. If awarded, a grant match of $500,000 in marketing support has been pledged by the Tourist Development Council as reflected in its budget, as well as $200,000 in airport rate and fee charge abatement incentives for the first year of new nonstop service to a direct service target market airport including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago and Central/South Florida. Local match is a significant evaluation criterion in the selection process. Attached is the Federal Register invitation for SCASDP grant submissions. The contract and lease internal coordination sheet is attached along with an approval e-mail from legal. OPTIONS: Approve, Reject or Table. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is Staff's recommendation that the Board approve the Department of Airports' preparation and submittal of an application U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant to incentivize new air-service at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, and authorize the Chairman to execute the grant application for submittal. If grant is awarded, authorize the Chairman to execute the grant agreement and all other grant documents required during the term of the grant. Request the Board to authorize the Clerk's Contracts and Grants office to submit the prepared and executed grant through the required on-line application process, with all documentation and letters of support prior to the July 22, 2015 deadline and submit all future grant documents during the term of the grant. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator