Expansion of air reserve base comes at an important time

While the future of General Motors Corp.'s Lordstown assembly plant hangs in a balance -- we remain optimistic that there will be a product after the Cobalt -- a 34.5 million project at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station is an important shot in the Mahoning Valley's economic arm.
Apart from the obvious direct benefits to be derived during the construction of the housing facilities at the Vienna Township base, the investment by the federal government represents an important milestone.
During groundbreaking ceremonies for Phase 1 of the project -- it carries a price tag of 7.5 million -- Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, made the following observation: "Once you get a project started, it's easier to get money to finish it."
Thus, while the entire 34.5 million for all four phases of the lodging project isn't in the bank yet, Ryan believes the initial allocation suggests a long-term commitment on the part of the Pentagon.
Indeed, Ryan, through his prior service with the House Armed Services Committee and now his membership on the Appropriations Committee, has played a crucial role in ensuring that the expansion of the base -- physically and mission-wise -- is not undermined by a lack of funding.
A priority
In 2005, Ryan led the Mahoning Valley's successful campaign to keep the base off the Pentagon's closing list. With the 2,400 reservists, civilians and contractors in full-time or part-time positions and the 100 million that is pumped into the economy of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys each year, the air reserve station is a major player in the region's well-being and future.
Col. Timothy Thomson, commander of the base and the 910th Air Reserve Wing, notes that, "adequate housing for reserves who train here positively impacts our mission." And having additional housing on base will save money, because the government now pays for motel accommodation, and will be convenient for training.
Despite the progress being made at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, the pressures on the federal budget remain intense. Leaders in the Mahoning Valley need to work closely with Congressman Ryan to ensure that the base continues to grow.