Airports for the Future: ACI-NA Grassroots Campaign 2013 Airport Board Members & Commissioners Conference April 14, 2013 Biloxi, MS 1 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Origin of the Effort Cam paign: Verb; Work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a political or social one. Do things differently Community-based Rally local airport stakeholders 2 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Airports for the Future A new approach to policy advocacy Stop Flying Solo Tom Ridge Rally local airport stakeholders to echo need for local empowerment Focus on developing informed, engaged community partners on issues important to airports 3 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Goal in 2012-13 Help strengthen awareness and understanding of airports vital role in national and local economies, and key attributes like strength of management and current funding sources Create overarching campaign messaging Lay groundwork for grassroots activities in key markets Build tools to enable all airports to begin local campaigns Elevate airport benefits and challenges in national debate 4 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Dealing With Policy Challenges: A Case Study Policy Problem: Bank fees charged to merchants were costing $48 billion per year Fact: Merchants were powerless to stop or change the fee Solution: Cap the so-called swipe-fees Challenge: Industry had more lobbyists than any other sector of the economy, spent $150 million on lobbying in 2011 alone. 5 AirportsForTheFuture.org
National Building Blocks: A Case Study Getting Started: Merchant coalition would grow to include 26 national organizations and 86 state organizations. Common Messaging: Merchants explained their role in sustaining jobs and keeping consumer costs down Shared Tools: Fact sheets, talking points, materials Yet, Not Enough: Swipe-fee fixes failed to pass in 2007-2009 6 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Getting Relentlessly Local: A Case Study A New Approach: Outside Washington, to come back in Community Credentialing: Merchants highlighted their local impact on economic growth, job creation, and keeping prices low for stressed local consumers. Local Credentialing Voices: Recruited local Chambers, Civic Groups, Community Leaders, and Customers to help validate their economic impact messaging in each local community. 7 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Results: A Case Study Community and Constituents Trump Lobbyists and Money: Merchants did not out spend or out lobby the banks. But when the leaders of each community demanded action, Merchants won. Swipe Fees were capped at about 12 cents, down from 44, after several rounds of voting in a Congress where each Chamber was controlled by a different party. National Media Takes Note: USA Today: Main Street Out-Muscled Wall Street Fox Business: A Win for Small Business, Consumers in Swipe Fee Battle 8 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Changing our Strategy Direct Lobbying Legislators Pressure from Home on Behalf of Airports 9 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Where You Come In Winning the policy debate 1 2 Join us in readying for 2015 Change the way you talk about Airports 3 Help create new champions 10 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Key Message Elements Airports create JOBS and contribute to the GROWTH of their local ECONOMIES Airports are LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, and receive VERY LITTLE, IF ANY TAXPAYER FUNDED SUPPORT Airports are WELL-MANAGED, despite being subject to FUNDING CHALLENGES, POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY and COMPLEX REGULATION The current FEDERALLY MANDATED system is a band-aid process that gives WASHINGTON TOO MUCH CONTROL OVER CRUCIAL LOCAL MATTERS 11 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Tailoring the Message Each Individual Airport Should Personalize Messaging With: THEIR major community impact including jobs, output and key employer site decisions Growth projections/ for their community Major investments needed to meet community needs, and potential job creation Risk created by funding uncertainty 12 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Driving Key Messages--Economic Benefits With U.S. airports linked to more than 10 million American jobs and an annual payroll of $365 billion, it s no surprise that IND plays a significant role in our local economy, said Bob Duncan, executive director for the IAA. Although IND s budget is not funded by local or state taxes, we play a significant role in creating economic activity and tax revenue in Central Indiana 13 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Driving Key Messages--Economic Benefits San Antonio's two airports had an overall economic impact of $5.1 billion last year, officials said Wednesday. 14 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Driving Key Messages--Economic Benefits The study also stated that business in our area generate an annual payroll of $1.4 billion and total regional earnings of more than $2.6 billion. The Airport is clearly an important component of the overall vitality of the City s economy and the future is looking even brighter LGB is a tax generator rather than a tax user 15 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Driving Key Messages--Economic Benefits 16 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Displaying the Message Las Vegas Salt Lake City 17 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Engaging Airport Stakeholders in WV 18 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Enlisting Local Support on National Issues 19 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Cultivating Champions in the Community Opinion Leaders Local Business Groups Local Employers Airports Local Officials Labor Groups State Elected Officials Congress Major Suppliers Media Tax Policy Groups 20 AirportsForTheFuture.org
They Said It: Support for Airports by the Community Our Airports are Our Gateways Gray Swoope, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida Proximity to the Airport Gives Us a Major Advantage Martin Seifert, President and CEO of NuFern The airport is not only important to Long Beach, but vital to the entire region's economic growth." Mayor Bob Foster "Transportation is an economic driver, and Pennsylvania's aviation industry plays a major role in delivering good-paying jobs and connections for commerce," PA Governor Corbett "Tweed-New Haven Airport is a critical part of our regional transportation infrastructure, and the enhancements to the runway safety areas will increase its economic contributions to the region U.S. Sens. Leiberman, Blumenthal and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. 21 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Biloxi, MS Stakeholder Profile STAKEHOLDER SAMPLE ACTIVITY Invite for airport tour; solicit Governor's support with Congressional Governor Phil Bryant (R) delegation. Mayor/City Government A.J. Holloway/7 member city council Pass resolution acknowledging economic importance of the airport. State Officials Largest Industries Largest Employers Universities Civic Organizations Media/Blogs Sen. Thomas Gollott (SD50, R) Rep. Randall H. Patterson (HD115, D) Rep. Casey Eure (HD116, R) Rep. Scott DeLano (HD117, R) Gaming (casino resort hotels) Tourism Seafood Processing Shrimp working Shipbuilding Military Installments Beau Rivage Resort & Casino VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System IP Casino Resort Spa Biloxi Regional Medical Center DuPont DeLisle Manufacturing Ingalls Shipbuilding City of Biloxi Trinity Yachts Virginia College in Biloxi (private-sector technical college) Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau Coast Chamber (Mississippi Gulf) Biloxi Chamber of Commerce Sun Herald, WLOX13 (Raycom Media), FOX10 TV, WBUV-FM Invite for airport tour; solicit elected officials' support with Congressional delegation; pass resolution acknowledging economic importance of the airport. Secure letters and calls to Congressional delegation, Mayor, Council; issue public letter of support; communication with employees; issue credentialing statement the airport may use. Secure letters and calls to Congressional delegation, Mayor, Council; issue public letter of support; communication with employees; issue credentialing statement that the airport may use. Secure statement about importance of the airport in attracting students and faculty into the local economy. Secure credentialing statements from key civic organizations regarding the airport's importance to the local economy. Media placements, op-eds. 22 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Support from the Community Las Vegas Support from an Influential Voice 23 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Washington State Community Outreach Washington Grape Growers Association: Open to facilitating statements of support for airports through its local members. Northwest Cherry Growers Association: Added airports to future statements about the economic successes of cherry growing season. Business Roundtable: Including airport initiatives in their Annual Policy Agenda. 24 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Support from the Community Tucson The Tucson Metro Chamber is leading an air service task force in which there has been talk of businesses stepping up to develop financial incentives and deliver passengers to help sustain new airline service. Airlines are responding when communities put money where their mouths are. 25 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Generating Community Support Credentialing letter from a large Employer 26 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Business Support for the Airport 27 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Businesses Supporting Airports: Ohio 28 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Enlisting Support from Lawmakers 29 AirportsForTheFuture.org
ACI-NA to provide materials to help you: Emulate and extend national messages in your own communities Facilitate stakeholder planning and outreach See what other airports are doing Incorporate not extra work! Supporting Your Airport 30 AirportsForTheFuture.org
CAMPAIGN TERMINAL www.airportsforthefuture.org/campaignterminal 31 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Videos for Use at Your Airport 32 AirportsForTheFuture.org
MATERIALS Trifold Brochure Available at: AirportsForTheFuture.org/CampaignTerminal 33 AirportsForTheFuture.org
MATERIALS Fact Sheets Available at: AirportsForTheFuture.org/CampaignTerminal 34 AirportsForTheFuture.org
MATERIALS Print Ads, Lightbox & LCD Screen Available at: AirportsForTheFuture.org/CampaignTerminal 35 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Other Resources Available For Your Airport Messaging Speeches Presentation Sample op-ed outlines Stakeholder toolkits 36 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Key To Success Individual airports across the country are doing amazing things Future success in Washington requires airports to cultivate champions in the community TODAY Each of YOU can contribute to campaign success by working with airport directors to adopt messaging, engage stakeholders in your community 37 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Getting Local: Airports Year Ahead What Can I Do To Help Support Campaign? Change the way you talk about your airport Work with your airport director to recruit and engage community stakeholders to support the airport Be a public advocate for the economic importance of the airport in your community. 38 AirportsForTheFuture.org
Additional Resources How Do I Get Started? AirportsForTheFuture.org/CampaignTerminal LOGIN: Commissioners use COM Password: Warmingup&56 Questions and comments: Nathan Pick NPick@aci-na.org (202) 293-8500 office (804) 921-9875 mobile 39 AirportsForTheFuture.org
THANK YOU! 40 AirportsForTheFuture.org