APPENDIX B
Page 1
APPLICATION UNDER
SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
DOCKET DOT-OST-2020-0231
SUMMARY INFORMATION1
All applicants must submit this Summary Information schedule, as the application
coversheet, a completed standard form SF424 and the full application proposal on
www.grants.gov.
For your preparation convenience, this Summary Information schedule is located at
https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air- service/SCASDP
A. PROVIDE THE LEGAL SPONSOR AND ITS DUN AND BRADSTREET (D&B) DATA UNIVERSAL
NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBER, INCLUDING +4, EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
(EIN) OR TAX ID.
Legal Sponsor Name: Glynn County Airport Commission
Name of Signatory Party for Legal Sponsor: Glynn County Airport Commission
DUNS Number: 052625662
EIN/Tax ID:
B. LIST THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY OR CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITIES APPLYING:
1. Glynn County Airport Commission
2. Golden Isles Development Authority
3. Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and Convention Bureau
4. Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce
C. PROVIDE THE FULL AIRPORT NAME AND 3-LETTER IATA AIRPORT CODE FOR THE
APPLICANT(S) AIRPORT(S) (ONLY PROVIDE CODES FOR THE AIRPORT(S) THAT ARE ACTUALLY
SEEKING SERVICE).
1.Brunswick Golden Isles Airport 2. BQK
1 Note that the Summary Information does not count against the 20-page limit of the SCASDP application.
APPENDIX B
Page 2
IS THE AIRPORT SEEKING SERVICE NOT LARGER THAN A SMALL HUB AIRPORT UNDER FAA HUB
CLASSIFICATIONS EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE OF SERVICE OF THE ATTACHED ORDER?
YES NO
Does the airport seeking service hold an airport operating certificate issued by the Federal
Aviation Administration under 14 CFR Part 139? (If “No”, Please explain whether the airport
intends to apply for a certificate or whether an application under Part 139 is pending.)
YES NO
D. SHOW THE DRIVING DISTANCE FROM THE APPLICANT COMMUNITY TO THE NEAREST:
1. Large hub airport: Atlanta International Airport, 300 miles
2. Medium hub airport: Jacksonville International Airport, 62 miles
3. Small hub airport: Savannah/Hilton head International Airport, 70 miles
4. Airport with jet service: St. Simons Island Airport, 15 miles
Note: Provide the airport name and distance, in miles, for each category.
E. LIST THE 2-DIGIT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CODE APPLICABLE TO THE SPONSORING
ORGANIZATION, AND IF A CONSORTIUM, TO EACH PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY.
1. GA1 2.
3. 4.
APPENDIX B
Page 3
F. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Not a Consortium Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium
Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Air
Service Development Program Grant
If previous recipient: Provide year of grant(s): 2006 ; and, the text of the grant
agreement section(s) setting forth the scope of the grant project:
In 2006, the Partnership proposed to implement a new "Air Service Initiative" (Initiative) for the Brunswick
Golden Isles Airport. The Partnership applied for a grant in the amount of $500,000, and identified $325,000
in local funding and in-kind services from members of the Partnership to augment the grant funds, The
Initiative was designed to implement an inter-related set of actions to improve and expand existing service,
pursue the services of a second air service provider, and secure price-competitive air service for the traveling
public. The actions included market analyses, development of marketing materials, air service incentives and
concentrated marketing efforts. Concentration of marketing efforts focused on businesses and travelers based
in the region, visitors to the region, user agencies of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC),
air service providers, and promotion of the airline services available in the Brunswick market.
G. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES)
PUBLIC PRIVATE
1. Glynn County Airport Commission 1.
2. Golden Isles Development Authority 2.
3. Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce 3.
4. Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and Convention Bureau 4.
5. 5.
H. PROJECT PROPOSAL:
1a. GRANT GOALS: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Launch New Carrier Secure Additional Service Upgrade Aircraft
First Service New Route Service Restoration
Regional Service Surface Transportation Professional Services2
2 “Professional Services” involve a community contracting with a firm to produce a product such as a marketing
plan, study, air carrier proposal, etc.
NOTE: A community that currently receives subsidized Essential Air Service
funding, receives assistance under the Alternate Essential Air Service Pilot Program, or is a
participant in, and has received a grant under, the Community Flexibility Pilot Program, is
not eligible for SCASDP grant funds. See Section C.1. (“Essential Air Service
Communities”)
APPENDIX B
Page 5
CONSORTIUM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY’S PAST GRANTS,
PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT.
2. FINANCIAL TOOLS TO BE USED: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Marketing (including Advertising): promotion of the air service to the public
Start-up Cost Offset: offsetting expenses to assist an air service provider in setting up a
new station and starting new service (for example, ticket counter reconfiguration)
Revenue Guarantee: an agreement with an air service provider setting forth a minimum
guaranteed profit margin, a portion of which is eligible for reimbursement by the
community
Recruitment of U.S. Air Carrier: air service development activities to recruit new air
service, including expenses for airport marketers to meet with air service providers to make
the case for new air service
Fee Waivers: waiver of airport fees, such as landing fees, to encourage new air service;
counted as in-kind contributions only
Ground Handling Fee: reimbursement of expenses for passenger, cabin, and ramp (below
wing) services provided by third party ground handlers
Travel Bank: travel pledges, or deposited monetary funds, from participating parties for
the purchase of air travel on a U.S. air carrier, with defined procedures for the subsequent
use of the pledges or the deposited funds; counted as in-kind contributions only
Other (explain below)
I. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT:
Full ILS Outer/Middle Marker Published Instrument Approach
Localizer Other (specify)
APPENDIX B
Page 6
J. PROJECT COST: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA
REMINDER: LOCAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS MAY NOT BE PROVIDED BY AN AIR CARRIER (SEE “TYPES
OF CONTRIBUTIONS” FOR REFERENCE).
LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT
1 Federal amount requested $172,647
2 State cash financial contribution $0.00
Local cash financial contribution
3a Airport cash funds $140,000
3b Non-airport cash funds $0.00
3 Total local cash funds (3a + 3b) $140,000
4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1+2+3) $312,647
In-Kind contribution
5a Airport In-Kind contribution** $0.00
5b Other In-Kind contribution** $200,000
5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION
(5a + 5b)
$200,000
6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+5) $512,647
K. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS**
For funds in lines 5a (Airport In-Kind contribution) and 5b (Other In-Kind contribution),
please describe the source(s) of fund(s) and the value ($) of each.
Marketing service, or in-kind services will be provided by the Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and
Convention Bureau.
APPENDIX B
Page 7
L. Is This Application Subject To Review By an Affected State Under Executive Order 12372
Process?
a. This application was made available to the State under the Executive Order 12372
Process for review on (date) .
b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the State for review.
c. Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.
M. Is the Lead Applicant or Any Co-Applicants Delinquent on Any Federal Debt? (If “Yes”,
Provide Explanation)
No Yes (explain)
APPENDIX C
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
INCLUDED? ITEM
For Immediate Action
Determine Eligibility
New Grants.gov users must register with www.grants.gov.
Existing Grants.gov users must verify existing www.grants.gov account has not expired
and the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is current.
For Submission by 4:00 PM EST on January 26, 2021
Communities with active SCASDP grants: notify DOT/X50 of intent to terminate
existing grant in order to be eligible for selection.
Complete Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF424) via www.grants.gov
Summary Information schedule complete and used as cover sheet (see Appendix B)
Application of up to 20 one-sided pages (excluding any letters from the
community or an air carrier showing support for the application), to
include:
• A description of the community’s air service needs or deficiencies.
• The driving distance, in miles, to the nearest large, medium, and small hub
airports, and airport with jet service.
• A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program,
including a concise synopsis of the scope of the proposed grant project.
• For service to or from a specific city or market, such as New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C., for example), a list of the airports that the
applicant considers part of the market.
• A detailed description of the funding necessary for implementation of the
community's project.
• An explanation of how the proposed project differs from any previous projects
for which the community received SCASDP funds (if applicable).
• Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for administering the program.
• A request for waiver of the Ten Year Same Project Limitation (if applicable) –
see Appendix B above.
• A motion for confidential treatment (if applicable) – see Appendix D below.
Confidential Commercial Information
Applicants will be able to provide certain confidential business information relevant to their
application proposals on a confidential basis. Under the Department’s Freedom of Information
Act regulations (49 C.F.R. § 7.17), such information is limited to commercial or financial
information that, if disclosed, would either likely cause substantial harm to the competitive
position of a business or enterprise or make it more difficult for the Federal Government to
obtain similar information in the future.
Applicants seeking confidential treatment of a portion of their applications must segregate the
confidential material in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential Submission of X (the applicant)
in Docket DOT-OST-2020-0231” and include with that material a request in the form of a
motion seeking confidential treatment of the material under 14 C.F.R. § 302.12 (“Rule 12”) of
the Department’s regulations. The applicant should submit an original and two copies of its
motion and an original and two copies of the confidential material in the sealed envelope.
The confidential material should not be included with the original application that is submitted
via www.grants.gov. The applicant’s original submission, however, should indicate clearly
where the confidential material would have been inserted. If an applicant invokes Rule 12, the
confidential portion of its filing will be treated as confidential pending a final determination. All
confidential material must be received by 4:00 PM EST, March 1, 2021, and delivered to the
U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation Analysis, 8th Floor, Room W86-307,
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590.
BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. Proposal under the Small Community Docket OST-2020-0231 Air Service Development Program
SUBMITTED BY THE BRUNSWICK GOLDEN ISLES AIR SERVICE PARTNERSHIP
SPONSORED BY The Glynn County Airport Commission
Brunswick, Georgia
DUNS Number: 052625662 Congressional Code: GA1
All communications with respect to this document should be sent to:
Robert J. Burr Executive Director Glynn County Airport Commission 295 Aviation Parkway Suite 205 Brunswick, GA 31525-6804 (912) 265-2070 - Telephone
March 1, 2021
Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program March 2021
ii Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership
U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Program
March 2, 2021
2021 Grant Description The Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership is proposing to implement a program to
maintain and expand air service at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport to reverse the negative impacts
from the COVID pandemic. The Partnership is applying for a grant in the amount of $172,647 and
has identified $340,000 in local funding and in-kind services from members of the Partnership to
augment the grant funds. The initiatives proposed are designed to support current services provided
by the incumbent air service carrier Delta, encourage growth and frequency of flights, and solicit for
new service to other destinations to capture passenger leakage from other airports in the region. The
promotion of Delta’s new programs to ensure the safety of all passengers during the pandemic is
essential to the success of regaining passenger traffic, currently being lost to the effect of the COVID
travel restrictions and to competing services at other airports (JAX and SAV). The Brunswick Golden
Isles area is highly dependent on the tourism industry and has suffered due to current economic
conditions. Once economic conditions improve, normal market forces that have sustained service
over the years is expected to improve ridership. The initiatives will include: market analyses,
implementation of marketing plans, marketing to specific audiences to include inbound and outbound
traffic, and changing the general community’s perception of flying safely amid current fears about
COVID.
iii Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership
U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Program
March 2, 2021
Table of Contents
Brunswick and the Golden Isles ............................................................................................................... 5
Feature Key Air Travel Generators ........................................................................................................... 5
Air Service Trends and Issues at BQK ..................................................................................................... 5
The True Size of the Brunswick Air Travel Market ................................................................................. 6
2006 Small Community Air Service Improvement Grant Accomplishments ............................................ 7
Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Retention and Build Back Initiative ............................................... 7
The Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership .............................................................................. 9
Requested Funding for the Initiative ....................................................................................................... 10
Concluding Statement ............................................................................................................................. 10
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
I. Brunswick and the Golden Isles
The Glynn County Airport Commission operates two airports in the Coastal Georgia area: Brunswick Golden Isles Airport and the St. Simons Island Airport. The Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is the commercial service airport serving the region, with the airport identifier of BQK. Brunswick and the Golden Isles (Figure 1) is a growing community on the Georgia Coast that is home to a vibrant seaport, a strong business community, renowned tourist attractions, a growing residential base, and exceptional quality of life which promotes growth. It is also the location of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), which trains tens of thousands of U.S. and international security personnel. The Brunswick Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), comprised of Glynn, Brantley and McIntosh counties, had an estimated population in 2020 of 120,655, an 16% increase over the 2009 level. More than 79,626 of these residents are in the immediate Brunswick Metropolitan Area. BQK serves an estimated air service catchment area of approximately 238,551 residents in the broader Coastal Georgia region. The Brunswick area generates much more air travel than its modest size would suggest, due to key air travel generators which are located in the immediate area (Figure 2). Among these are:
• Sea Island Company, a developer and operator of world-class residential and tourism areas in the Golden Isles.
• The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) of the Department of Homeland Security, the primary source of training for more than 96 federal agencies. FLETC is located immediately adjacent to the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport.
• Saint Simons Island, a premier tourism destination and year-round residential area known for its beaches, festivals, golf, sports tournaments and other attractions.
• Jekyll Island, operated by a state authority as a coastal park and convention resort destination for the southeast US. The Island has a rich heritage and restored historic cottages of the early 1900 century aristocrats who used the Island as a retreat. The Island now attracts visitors for year-round conventions, festivals, and sporting events on the pristine beaches and the many golf course, tennis facilities, soccer complex and biking paths located on the Island.
• The Port of Brunswick, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, a major point of entry and exit for maritime cargo. International Auto Processing operates one of the largest import/export vehicle receiving port facilities in the U.S.
• The development of a regional medical center at the Southeast Georgia Health System campuses in all three counties making up the MSA with over 350 hospital beds serving this area.
• Natural resource industries based in the Brunswick area, including fisheries, pulp and paper processors, and related industries.
• The demographic profile for the Brunswick and Golden Isles area exhibits strong growth, high disposable income, excellent tourism infrastructure, and a solid business base.
Figure 1: Brunswick Area
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
Brunswick and the Golden Isles
Feature Key Air Travel Generators
II. Air Service Trends and Issues at BQK
Air service at BQK is currently limited to one carrier, Delta’s regional carrier, Endeavor, with non-stop service to and from Atlanta, with limited service of 2-3 flights per day. In 2019, Delta announced plans for an expansion at Brunswick Golden Isles airport which were halted by COVID-19. The expansion included service of a larger CRJ900 aircraft with four flights per day resulting in50% more seating capacity and first-class service. The expanded service was scheduled for implementation on May 22, 2020.
In June of 2020, Delta threatened to cease all service at the Brunswick airport as a result of the effects of the pandemic, however these plans were stalled by a provision in the CARES Act program that service cancellations could not cause all air service to be discontinued. The federal act provisions will expire in March 2021, which means that Delta could determine to cease all service at the airport, shutting down all commercial service for our community.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) is a major travel generator. The FLETC campus is adjacent to the Brunswick Airport.
Sea Island, a world class resort area
St Simons and Jekyll Islands are expanding tourism locations.
Fisheries, pulp, paper and other natural resource industries provide a stable economic base.
Port of Brunswick, including International Auto Processing, a major entry and exit point for vehicles.
Figure 2
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
As shown in the graph (figure 3), BQK began 2020 with more enplaned passengers in January and February as compared to the same period in 2019. In March, the airport suffered the affects of the national shut down. Recovery is slow, and according to the Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and Convention Bureau, tourism and travel is expected to return to former levels over the next year.
Figure 3
The True Size of the Brunswick Air Travel Market The Brunswick Golden Isles market has demonstrated that it responds very positively to improvements in air
service. However, the current service levels are only meeting a small fraction of the air service needs of the Brunswick market. The decline in passenger boarding’s at BQK has been, and remains, the result of COVID flight restrictions and local market traffic “leaking” to alternative airports where increased frequency is
Figure 4
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
offered. Notwithstanding, the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport offers a considerably more convenient experience for its passengers in that its proximity is in the center of the Brunswick and Golden Isles market, however inferior availability of flights at BQK simply cannot compete with the options available to travelers at JAX and SAV. In 2020, the Georgia Department of Transportation undertook an analysis to quantify the leakage from the Brunswick Golden Isles market to the competing airports and to determine the true size of the Brunswick Golden Isles market. The results of that study indicated that 75,996, or 1.96% out of 3,885,476 passengers chose the Brunswick airport. The leakage to SAV was significantly lower than to JAX. Additionally, leakage was also attributable to service limited to ATL, as the top three destinations were New York, Boston, and Chicago.
III. 2006 Small Community Air Service Improvement Grant Accomplishments
The Brunswick Partnership previously received a grant under the program, with a completely different set of economic circumstances, in 2006. At that time, the community was growing a rapid rate, and real estate in coastal Georgia was selling at an unprecedented rate. The market was under-served and being held back by unreasonably high fares and poor service. Service reliability has markedly improved with the introduction of the regional jets, but fares remained relatively high through the last decade. With the assistance of the prior DOT grant, an air service consultant was retained to provide advice, expertise and resources to continue to work on fare issues and met the objectives of the previous grant program. The key project goals of the previous grant were to:
• To increase passenger use of BQK by travelers based in the region and by visitors to
Brunswick and the Golden Isles; • To expand the level of regional jet service to Atlanta; and • To secure the introduction of service to a second non-stop destination by a new entrant
carrier in 2007. The federal grant enabled the Partnership to aggressively pursue the following primary areas of activity under the Initiative and met the first two objectives with a strong possibility of meeting the third, which was postponed because of the recession.
IV. Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Retention and Build Back Initiative
The Brunswick Golden Isles community has dedicated substantial effort to improving air service at BQK. It is now focused on attracting service to this market and to building ridership from leakage areas. The COVID-19 health pandemic has significantly harmed the Brunswick market with tourism and business travelers reducing their overall flying and seeking the most cost-effective way to their destination. The “Partnership” that was formed and energized by the previous DOT grant is now committed to a new set of goals and initiatives designed to retain the valued service being provided, gain new services by the incumbent carrier, and possibly the addition of a new carrier. The community realizes that the region is at an all-time low in terms of economic activity, due the ongoing effects of the pandemic and a continued slow recovery from the economic recession. The Brunswick Golden Isles community has been especially hard hit, as it is a destination market for
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
people with second homes, and tourism is the number one industry. The community has also realized losses in passenger traffic from business travelers. Many of the high- end resorts were also hit by the backlash of reduction in corporate flying for meetings and conventions. These economic conditions have created a perfect storm in a small community that has had commercial air service for 70 years and continuous service from Delta Air Lines or its affiliate for 37 years. The community has agreed to establish a marketing effort that will support the initiatives to increase ridership to and from Brunswick. The community believes there are sufficient passengers in the Brunswick catchment area to support air service. The objective is to encourage these passengers to use the local airport to support air carriers’ need to generate a profit.
The Community has agreed to these initiatives:
1. Implement a new marketing effort to increase traffic to/from Atlanta-The
community has important ties to ATL, and the drive distance (5 hours) tends to encourage use of air service if the air fare is competitive with the car travel option. The Partnership will provide a specific marketing effort with a goal to provide service that meets the needs of both business and leisure travelers. The marketing effort will be centered around inbound and outbound passengers to highlight the following: safety and cleanliness, features at our facility and operations that limit wait times and allow for social distancing in traditionally passenger congested areas, a touch free experience, and comparisons to costs at leakage airports, and educate passengers on the true cost of travel using air versus car.
2. Establish program to regain business and tourism usage of the service-The
Partnership will develop a marketing plan specifically to publicize the net cost and convenience factor of using BQK, the local community airport. This program will be targeted to business and tourism markets that have traditionally used other airports than BQK. Additionally, the partnership will work to obtain larger aircraft to provide adequate checked baggage space and provide premium seating options. The marketing program will emphasize enhanced services made possible by flying the larger aircraft, including class service.
3. Secure a new Small Community Air Service Improvement Grant for the
Partnership-The community agreed to utilize any tools available to it that would help market the above initiatives, including the DOT grant process. The effectiveness of the Partnership is closely tied to its success in securing grant funds through this application.
The community, through the Partnership, will support the initiatives with a robust and timely marketing plan that focuses on the changes in convenience and net value, and the addition of new services. The marketing program will be measured by the key indicator of load factor on the three flights provided per day by Delta, the future implementation of a larger aircraft, and the additional possibility of adding another air carrier at the terminal. The objective is to increase the number of flights per day and the number of enplaned passengers at the Brunswick Golden Isles airport.
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
V. The Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership
The Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership was formed in the previous grant and will continue to support air service initiatives and component activities for the new application. The Partnership is comprised of the following entities:
Glynn County Airport Commission (Sponsor), Brunswick Golden Isles Airport
Golden Isles Development Authority
Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and Convention Bureau
Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce The sponsoring public member of the Partnership is the Glynn County Airport Commission. The Commission will execute the appropriate assurance documents with DOT and will incur and submit expenses of the Partnership, with appropriate supporting documentation, to DOT for reimbursement under the grant agreement. The Airport Commission serves as the executive of the Partnership and will perform all administrative, financial and implementation tasks. Decisions about the priorities and direction of the Initiative will be made by the Commission. Funds provided by the Commission, an estimated $140,000, will be expended by for the implementation of the initiative activities. However, in the case of in-kind services, the provider of the in-kind services will implement those services on behalf of the Partnership. In addition, the Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and Convention Bureau are committing in-kind services with an estimated value of $200,000 for the Initiative. These services will be primarily in the form of advertising tie-ins with Bureau campaigns, literature and events focused on local air service. This cooperative effort is a major expansion and elaboration of current efforts and will be critical to the effective marketing of services available at BQK in key markets outside the Brunswick area particularly the Atlanta and state-wide market and other major destinations.
The Glynn County Airport Commission will continue the relationship formed in the last grant with a marketing consultant to assist with the implementation of the initiative and will perform other duties as well. The cost of this service is not part of the in-kind contribution but demonstrates the commitment of the Glynn County Airport Commission to the initiative, and the air service development needs of the community. The committed funds and in-kind value from Partnership members for the two-year Initiative are comprised of the following types of support:
Cash from airport revenues $ 140,000
In-kind contributions from the community $200,000 TOTAL Partnership Participation Value $ 340,000
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
VI. Requested Funding for the Initiative
The Partnership is requesting a grant of $172,647 from DOT to assist with the funding of the initiatives. The following budget, including both local and federal funds, has been developed. The initiatives are intended to encompass a three-year period. However, the spending rate may be accomplished in less time to improve ridership as soon as possible. Items 1 through 4 of the budget will be expended on a programmatic basis over the three-year period. The total budget levels shown indicate the maximum levels programmed over three years for each line item. The preliminary budget for the two-year initiatives is shown below. Actual programming of funds will be determined by the Partnership, in conformance with the level of funding provided by the grant and the commitments reflected in the DOT grant agreement.
The $200,000 in in-kind services from the Brunswick Golden Isles Visitors and Convention Bureau will be applied to Line Items: Marketing to the ATL market, Marketing Local and Region, and Marketing to Airlines.
Total Partnership
Share Federal Share
Marketing to the ATL and Statewide Market $104,110 $104,110 $0
Marketing to Local Areas and Region $89,341 $89,341 $0
Marketing to Major Destinations $80,000 $40,000 $40,000
Marketing to Airlines $40,000 $40,000 $0
Marketing Support and Analysis $199,196 $66,549 $132,647
$512,647 $340,000 $172,647
In summary, the initiative budget is comprised of:
Partnership Cash Commitments $140,000 Partnership In-Kind Commitments $200,000 Federal Grant Funds $172,647 TOTAL THREE-YEAR BUDGET $512,647
VII. Concluding Statement The Brunswick and Golden Isles Air Service Partnership has worked hard to maintain and build the air service market at BQK and the Golden Isles. However, the current pandemic economic conditions in the local community and nationally have caused a complete altering of the marketing efforts needed to maintain air service to Brunswick. Delta Air Lines has taken steps to halt service completely at the airport but were not able to do so because of federal mandates tied to the CARES act. The Brunswick market must have new initiatives to regain passenger faith in air travel service and to pull back traffic that is leaking mostly to JAX. The Partnership, formed to improve air service at BQK, is prepared to execute a marketing plan that has measurable goals to build back service levels at Brunswick. The
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Brunswick Golden Isles Air Service Partnership U.S. Department of Transportation
Small Community Air Service Development Program
success of this effort requires the resources from the requested grant. The community’s economy is at a low point and recovery is slow, but is expected to recover within the next few years, allowing the normal market forces to regain strength and perform without assistance in the future. We request that the Department approve this request for the funding that is essential to the success of the Partnership’s efforts.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert J. Burr, A.A.E Executive Director Glynn County Airport Commission Brunswick, GA 31525-6804 [email protected] (912) 265-2070, ext. 4-Telephone