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a weekly feature of Business and Technology news in Southwestern Illinois. |
by Betty Magrath "The phone call just came through a few minutes ago, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that Scott Air Force Base will not, and I repeat, will not be on the closure list," stated Costello as the crowd broke into a spontaneous applause and cheers. "Since 1995, when we started working on strengthening Scott Air Base for this day, we have extended the military runway and built a new runway and the civilian airport which you are in right now." "Our number one priority is saving Scott," emphasized Costello. "We built a new traffic control tower for Scott and MidAmerica," continued Costello proudly. "We built 860 new family housing units to improve the quality here the for men and women at Scott, replacing housing that was WWII vintage. We built a new state-of-the art school on the base for the military dependants. We built dorms, day care centers and the list goes on." "We brought the 126th Air National Guard Refueing Wing from O'Hara International Airport in Chicago. That 1,000 jobs, 700 part-time, 300 full-time. $100 million in construction money that the City of Chicago paid to move the unit here. That generate $38 million annually to our economy." "A year ago the Air Force decommissioned the 932nd unit and said they are out of business in May 2004. We rolled up our sleeves and said we are going to save this unit. We not only saved the 932nd unit, and about 1,100 jobs with that wing but we have expanded their mission and are now replacing some of their airplanes by bringing C-9s in from Andrews Air Force in a rotation," continued Costello. "Last November, we were able to add $265.6 million in the Defense Appropriations bill to buy new C-40 airplanes to be based here at Scott Air Force Base, stated Costello. "Although, the list of base realignment and closures will not come out in Washington DC until later in the morning, we wanted to hold a press conference 'real time' and not just tell the media but to invite people in who had worked very hard with us to make this day happen," stated Congressman John Shimkus. "We wanted to beat CNN and do it real time because of the time, effort and energy we all collectively have put into this," stated Shimkus. "We are doing this for the readiness of our young men and women who put their lives on the line on a daily basis in the protection of our freedom and liberty. We believe whole hardily that the best place for men and women to serve is right here in the Midwest because of what's here in Illinois," stated Shimkus. In interview following the press conference, James R. Pennekamp, executive director of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, stated that in 1994, the Council was asked by Costello to really organize a community effort to support Scott Air Force Base. "We brought in our friends from the business community, our friends from labor, municipalities, counties, the State of Illinois, our friends from the Missouri side of the river. All of them understood that Scott is a very vital installation in terms of national defense," stated Pennekamp. "This is the 3rd largest employer in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the largest employer in downstate Illinois," noted Pennekamp. "It's worth about $2 billion a year annually for the St. Louis metro economy. And it affects nearly 100,000 people. So, there are a whole lot of folks who are very happy with this announcement," smiled Pennekamp. Pennekamp stated that if it was not for Mid America Airport, they might be hearing something different today. "We have to remind people that the MidAmerica Airport started as a Scott joint use project," he stated. "One of the number one functions of this civilian airport is to work in concert with Scott and to support Scott's mission. It has always been that way. Sixty percent of the military flights take off from the civilian runway here. It's been a wonderful relationship here. I think the Department of Defense looks at the relationship between MidAmerican and Scott as a true partnership with the greater Southwestern Illinois community. That's what they are looking at to make their bases more efficient." Pennekamp stated that one of the things the Department of Defense looks at is the cost efficiency of operations not only on the military bases, but what it costs a young airman or airwoman to live in the community. "This region embraces folks in the military," said Pennekamp. "We have any number of festivals going on in the communities around Scott Air Force Base that are particularly designed to built that relationship between men and women in uniforms and civilians." Although the complete list of base realignment and closures would not come out from Washington DC until later in the morning,Congressman John Shimkus we stated that they wanted to hold a press conference 'real time' and not just tell the media but to invite people in who had worked very hard to make this day happen. "We wanted to beat CNN and do it real time because of the time, effort and energy we all collectively have put into this," stated Shimkus. "We are doing this for the readiness of our young men and women who put their lives on the line on a daily basis in the protection of our freedom and liberty. We believe whole hardily that the best place for men and women to serve is right here in the Midwest because of what's here in Illinois," stated Shimkus. "But for Mid America Airport, we would not be able to help Scott Air Force Base," stated the Honorable Judge John Baricevic, former chairman of the St. Clair County Board. "Good long term planning over the past twenty-one years has put us here today."  Wineries HotelsReturn to Southwest Illinois News  
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