Regional Chamber spearheads effort to preserve air base

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has launched the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission to address the Pentagon’s redeployment decisions and prepare for another federal Base Realignment and Closure process that could affect the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

The EOMAC’s overall goal is to enhance the military value and national defense excellence at the air base in Vienna and other installations throughout eastern Ohio.

The federal Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, is the process whereby Congress works with the Pentagon to make the U.S. military more efficient, said Tom Humphries, chamber president and chief executive officer.

In 2005, the regional chamber and other community organizations led the Save Our Air Reserve Station campaign to build grass-roots support and awareness of the base, which was then under the threat of closure by Congress.

The effort was successful as the station maintained its operations without BRAC reductions, which ultimately closed and reduced other military installations.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com