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The EDC,
through its Defense Support Initiative Committee (DSI), is the
official representative for this process through cooperative
agreements with the County, Cities and the Military Affairs
Committees from Destin, Fort Walton Beach,
Niceville-Valparaiso, Crestview, Navarre and Walton
County. The EDC DSI is recognized by the State of
Florida as the lead agency in the tri-county area for base/community
initiatives.
Mission
Statement
To
support and
maintain the local military installations and their positive
economic contributions to the tri-county area while
maintaining and nurturing the relationships with the civilian
communities that house them.
Vision
Statement
To ensure the
survival and accommodate the growth of all military
organizations and commands which reside on the Eglin AFB
Complex in order for it to develop into and remain a joint
warfighter complex and a high technology center of excellence
for air armament, munitions, RDT&E, OT&E, special operations,
joint readiness and training, and initial acquisition.
The
economic viability of the region depends on the military.
While other economic sectors may experience temporary
downturns, the region’s military installations continue to be
the prime generators of the economy supporting active
military, civil service, military dependents, and retired
and/or separated military personnel.
Okaloosa County,
along with
its neighboring Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, is
home to the largest air force base in
the world - Eglin Air Force Base. The
land reservation provided by Eglin AFB encompasses three military installations; Eglin AFB, Hurlburt
Field, and Duke Field, collectively know as the Eglin Complex.
The presence of the multi-service
installations results in a greater density of technology-based
and defense-contracting firms creating industry clusters.
These military installations provide a direct economic impact
and an indirect impact with a ripple effect of military
spending.
Okaloosa County and The Military, a Community In Partnership
Commissioner Bill Roberts, August 2004
To me, the names Okaloosa County and the United States military
are synonymous. The military, just like our beaches,
farmlands and forest, are part of what makes our county so
diverse and unique. It is definitely one of the driving
forces of our economy, with an economic impact to our
community of more than $4 billion annually. We are proud
to have so many service men and women call our area home....
DSI Committee Chairman:
EDC Member Jim Heald
Manager,
InDyne,
Inc.
DSI Membership
is
by EDC Presidential Appointment and Board Approval
- Okaloosa EDC Representatives
- Okaloosa County Commissioner
- Okaloosa County Military Affairs
Council Representatives
- Community Business Leaders
- Eglin AFB Representatives
- Retired Military Personnel
- Santa Rosa County Representative
- Walton County Representative
Continual Operation and Expansion of
Our Military Installations is Critical
to Our Region's Economic Foundation:
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Some of the hyperlinked reports and briefings
provided below require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.
Click on the image for a free download.
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November 2005
Base Realignments and Closures (BRAC)
Accepted into Law
The 2005 Defense
Base Realignment and Closure Commission, commonly referred to
as BRAC, ordered 22 major bases closed. With the
BRAC 2005 recommendations enacted into law, implementation
efforts are now under way. The original
projections of the closures and realignments reflect the State
of Florida receiving a total of approximately 3,800 personnel
across the state. (This figure subject to change.)
The final BRAC Commission report is
available at: www.brac.gov.finalreport.html
The DSI is committed to
assist Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Duke Field and the
communities in their transitioning to accommodate the
additional 5,000+ new military and civilian personnel coming
to the area as a result of the BRAC realignments. The
realignments will not only add new missions and new government
personnel but also their families. There will be a
magnitude of challenges and opportunities to effectively and
efficiently engage in these realignments across the region.
Eglin Air Force Base
As a result of the 2005 BRAC Commission, the
US Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) will move from Ft.
Bragg, NC to Eglin AFB. The location of
the new Army post has yet to be finalized, but the preferred
location is adjacent to Duke Field. Also coming in
to Eglin AFB is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Integrated
Training Center (ITC). Final numbers and timeline remain
to be determined.
To assist in the transition, a
Ft. Bragg Community Transition Team has been set up by the
Workforce Development Board to coordinate and serve as the
point of contact for community and family services. One
such service is the
Military Spouse Career Advancement program designed to
help advance military spouses to portable careers by providing
them with education and training in high-growth, high-demand
occupations.
Hurlburt Field
As a result of the 2005 BRAC Commission,
Hurlburt Field will be losing approximately 1,000 personnel to
Cannon AFB by 2008. The deployment started in the
Fall 2007.
A Cannon Community Transition Team has been set up by the
Workforce Development Board to coordinate and serve as the
point of contact for community and family services.
Duke Field
As a result of the 2005 BRAC Commission,
Duke Field is the preferred site for the
incoming Special Forces personnel to
locate. It is anticipated that
Special Forces personnel should be located around Duke by
2008.
|
Eglin Reservation BRAC Impact |
|
33rd
Fighter Wing Transition to JSF Training Center |
Army 7th
Special Forces |
Integrated Weapons
Research Center |
|
F-15 Drawdown begins 2008 |
2240 Personnel |
36 Personnel |
|
F-35 Beddown Begins 2010 |
Begin arriving 2010 |
Arriving 2007 |
|
2663 Personnel |
$332M MILCON |
$2M MILCON |
|
$400M MILCON |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overview |
|
|
|
By 2015 |
|
|
|
4939 Personnel |
|
|
|
$734M MILCON |
|
|
|
7000 Dependents |
As of
March 2008 |
Vision 2015
In preparation for the incoming BRAC
realignment personnel and their families, Eglin Air Force Base
conducted a public summit on
growth management
in May 2006,
Vision 2015. The objective
was to foster collaboration between Eglin AFB and the
communities. Working together with joint-use of land,
infrastructure, and construction, the military community and
the public communities can accomplish more together than
separately.
Federal, state, local and military
representatives discussed the status of new units moving to
Eglin Air Force Base, regional growth challenges facing the
communities... such as transportation, affordable housing,
schools... and the success of collaborative planning.
Vision 2015 Vector Check I
In November 2006, Eglin AFB hosted a
Vision 2015 Vector Check sponsored by the Okaloosa EDC.
The purpose of this vector check was to provide a follow-up to
the Spring's Vision 2015 Summit:
Vision 2015 Vector Check II
Eglin AFB hosed their second vector
check November 2007 with the Okaloosa EDC providing
sponsorship. Approximately 100 community leaders from
the tri-county area participated.
Okaloosa Board of
County Commissioners
Eglin Installation Growth
Committee
In support of Eglin’s Vision 2015, the
Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners initiated their
three-county
growth management plan; the Eglin Installation Growth
Committee. The umbrella of this
committee consists of twelve executive committee members with
eleven sub-committees. Each sub-committee will
discuss issues related to their topic, identify challenges and
develop strategies to address those challenges. The
sub-committee will then share this information with the
Executive Committee which reports to the county and ultimately EAFB. The
goal of the Board of County Commissioners is a
long-term strategic plan on growth management.
The EDC and DSI
have representation on multiple levels in the executive committee and
in sub-committees.
Post-BRAC Realignment Impact Analysis to the Three-County Area
Economic Impact of Military
Personnel Realignments in Okaloosa County
April 2007
In support of Eglin’s growth management plan, Vision 2015, and
Okaloosa County’s Eglin Installation Growth Committee, the
Okaloosa EDC engaged the UWF Haas Center to conduct an
analysis on our three-county area. Emphasis was placed on the
economic impacts anticipated in our tri-county region due to
the BRAC realignments in regards to numbers and timelines.
Dr. Harper, Haas Center Director, worked with Air Force
representatives to obtain the most current information and
analyzed numerous areas such as housing, transportation,
education, medical and utility services.
Annual Net BRAC Impact Figures
|
Input |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Military Construction – 7th Special Forces |
-- |
-- |
$125 M |
$126 M |
$126 M |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Military Construction – JSF |
-- |
-- |
$73.2 M |
$73.2 M |
$73.2 M |
$73.2 M |
$73.2 M |
-- |
-- |
|
Military Construction – DTRA |
$1 M |
$1 M |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Military Personnel – 7th SF, 33rd
FW, JSF |
-- |
-175 |
-867 |
537 |
1,575 |
824 |
-113 |
212 |
446 |
|
Contractor Manpower |
-- |
15 |
13 |
47 |
68 |
75 |
17 |
-- |
-- |
|
Civilians |
-- |
43 |
43 |
24 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Population |
1 |
-453 |
-2,614 |
-1,078 |
3,453 |
6,102 |
6,300 |
7,251 |
8,860 |
|
Family Members |
-- |
-199 |
-1,449 |
1,109 |
2,981 |
1,633 |
-169 |
382 |
803 |
|
School-age Children |
-- |
-32 |
-369 |
324 |
828 |
466 |
-39 |
103 |
216 |
Essential Workforce Housing
The EDC formed the
Essential Workforce
Housing Initiative to include Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and
Walton Counties as well as Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field.
This initiative is addressing the current housing needs as
well as the needs of the anticipated influx of personnel and
their families.
Eglin AFB reports being able to
accommodate 20% of the 5,000+ military personnel moving to the
area as a result of the BRAC realignments. The other 80%
will need to live in the civilian communities; our cities and
towns.
Program Budget Directive 720
(PBD 720)
(i.e. 46th Test
Wing) Conducted outside
of the scope of BRAC, in early 2006, the Air Force proposed a budget
directive to cut fiscal expenditures. These cuts would
include downsizing and relocating the 46th Test Wing from
Eglin AFB to Edwards AFB in California. This proposed AF
reduction (30% cut) in Test & Evaluation (T&E) is contrary to
Congress' BRAC Law of establishing and maintaining Eglin as the RDT&E
center of excellence. Manpower
reductions, as a result of losing the 46th Test
Wing, could total 2000+, including virtually all contractor
positions and reduction of civil service workforce.
Elimination of armament test capabilities at Eglin would have
irretrievable, long term negative impacts on the area and its
economy. As a result, the DSI, which is three-county
strong, took an active and progressive role in support of the
46th Test Wing's location at Eglin. One initiative that
the DSI took was to constructed a
Okaloosa Talking-Points
Briefing in support of the 46th Test Wing and submitted that
package to local legislature, an outpouring of support resulted.
In the Fall of 2006 Congress ceased all 46th TW relocation
initiatives and directed an economic analysis be conducted
with scenarios addressing whether the wing stays or relocates.
The Rand Corporation was commissioned to conduct the study for
Congress and provided its results in the Summer of 2007.
The preliminary findings will result in the 46th Test Wing
staying put for now. There are two additional studies
currently underway to further support and confirm the original
findings. These reports should be finalized by Spring
2008.
U.S.A.F. News Release
Test and Evaluation Consolidation Report Delivered to Congress
May 2, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The Air Force has delivered to Congress a
cost-benefit analysis of budget proposals concerning
consolidation of Air Force test facilities.
Defense Environmental Network &
Information Exchange (denix)
A comprehensive resource for defense installations &
environmental communities. This site provides
outstanding material regarding the relationships between
military bases and their host committees:
https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Sustain/Ranges/sustainableranges.html
*
For additional information contact
Kay Rasmussen,
Director of Defense and Economic Initiatives.
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