Fly Syracuse is made possible by the dozens of Central New York businesses that contributed more than $300,000 to the MDA Air Service Development Fund and through a $480,000 grant from the US Department of Transportation. Congressman Jim Walsh along with Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton were instrumental in securing this grant. The Fly Syracuse campaign was designed by Mark Russell & Associates of Syracuse in cooperation with a joint committee from the City of Syracuse and the MDA. Committee members include, Mayor Driscoll, Irwin Davis, president, MDA, Peter Soderberg, president and CEO, Welch Allyn, Michael Gambino, president and CEO, Pass & Seymour, Terry Brown, chairman and president, O'Brien & Gere, Ltd.