WPAFB and City of Dayton work together

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A new plan is designed to bring together two of the area's biggest employers, the city of Dayton and Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Local leaders' hope for the future is that the ten minute drive is the only distance separating the base from the city.

"We're hoping that in 20 years people look back and say the relationship with the base and the city is still strong, people have moved into the city, jobs have come to the city," said city commissioner, Matt Joseph.

That's the idea behind the numerous recommendations made by a city task force on ways Dayton can tighten its bond with the base to the benefit of both. Something those who have been at Wright-Patt think is long over due.

"My whole career I used to think the community hasn't learned how to take care of the base, and how to take advantage of it with all the tremendous research and people out there," said Vince Russo, who has been an employee at the base for 41 years.

The recommendations include everything from more meetings with base leaders to street improvements and encouraging base employees to live in Dayton.

City manager, Tim Riordian said "I view the plan as the blocking and tackling. There are no major silver bullets here. This is good solid practice is the way I look at it."

One of the most immediate impacts may be the city's effort to increase the number of businesses certified as HubZone companies from 20 to 100. Basically, the companies get preferences when it comes to getting base contracts.

Officials also think the recommendations could lead to a Tech Town boom because businesses there deal with the cutting edge research used by the base.

City commissioners passed a resolution this morning adopting the plan.

Now, it's a matter of steering those recommendations forward.