:)
Posted on 06/17/2003 9:33:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Faced with another round of military base closures in 2005, communities surrounding Edwards Air Force Base have pooled their efforts to make sure the economically vital facility stays off the closure list.
Now the group itself is looking for assistance to ensure that it can carry out that work.
The Edwards Community Alliance was formed two years ago with representatives of Boron, California City, Mojave, Rosamond, Tehachapi and Lancaster, as well as Kern and Los Angeles counties. The Aerospace Office in Lancaster is under contract as a facilitator and to offer technical expertise.
The organization works to support and promote Edwards AFB, as well as the entire Aerospace Valley region.
To protect Edwards in the future, the alliance is working to educate others on the impact such a closure would have on the area, and lobby for measures that will keep the base from becoming a desirable target.
While Edwards is on sound footing based on technical merit, the process is a political one which will consider such factors as community support and cooperation and encroachment issues.
According to the alliance's literature, more than 28,000 of the 112,648 jobs in the region are aerospace and defense related. Edwards alone employs more than 11,000 high-tech workers.
Preserving these jobs and thousands more affected by the base drives the organization's efforts.
The alliance's formation was funded by a series of two $50,000 grants to Kern County from the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency. These grants were made available through the state's defense retention program, established under legislation authored by state Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight in 1999.
However, that grant money runs out at the end of June.
In order to continue its efforts, the organization is seeking sponsorships from area businesses and individuals.
The alliance needs approximately $57,000 per year to sustain its activities, said Bob Johnstone of The Aerospace Office.
That budget covers the costs of educational materials - items such as brochures and briefings to present to legislators and other influential individuals - and travel throughout the state and to Washington.
The only personnel costs associated with the alliance are part-time salaries for The Aerospace Office, which is under contract to implement the organization's plans.
Sponsorships are available at levels ranging from $25 to $10,000, although any amount will be accepted.
The alliance has its first two corporate sponsors, Mojave-based XCOR Aerospace and Bohn Printing of Lancaster.
"Without Edwards, we absolutely would not be here," said Aleta Jackson of XCOR. "Because they do flight test research, we can do flight test research."
Sponsors will receive a certificate of recognition.
For information on becoming a sponsor, contact The Aerospace Office at (661) 723-6103.
In addition to beginning a new era financially, the Edwards Community Alliance also has elected its first slate of officers from the board of directors.
"Until now it's been basically us who were running it," Johnstone said. "It was time for the board of directors to become more involved."
The board of directors consists of two representatives from each of the communities and counties in the alliance.
The new officers are President Tom Wardlaw of Rosamond, Vice President Dennis Davenport of Lancaster, Secretary Bill Deaver of Mojave and Treasurer George Novinger of Tehachapi.
"As an organization, it's been established and is up and running," he said. "Now, they need to get their communities involved."
:)
Red Flag is at Nellis and the ranges to the North. Those ranges, including Area 51 would be the only thing left if they closed Edwards. Even then I don't think there is anything like the big dry lake anywhere else.
It's time to stop closing bases, and the downsizing of the military that makes that necessary. National Defense is one of the few legitimate and Constitututional "missions" of the federal government. Military spending has just barely come up off the peg of the lowest postwar spending since before the pre WW-II buildup, as a fraction of GDP, set during the last year or two of the Clinton regime. If you don't count the auxilery spending for the battles in Afghanistan and Iraq, it's essentially still at that same, eating the seedcorn, level.
One desert looks like another, I guess.
I've been wrong before, though. I was surprised when they closed England AFB. It was ideal for the A-10's because of the available ranges and the close proximity to Fort Polk.
And the "UFOs" are hidden up at aera 51 near Tonopah, still in Nevada :) Actually that is were the developemental flights of the U-2, SR-71 and F-117 were conducted. Who knows what else might be up there? :) I remember seeing something about the possibility of moving that "Dreamland" type activity up into Utah or somewhere.
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