Area leaders prepare for 2015 BRAC

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - As concerns continue over furloughs due to sequestration at Wright Patterson Air Force base, area leaders are worried what even more defense cuts could mean for the region.
 
The Base Realignment And Closure a process intended to streamline the Department of Defense. The last round of cuts happened in 2005 and now President Obama wants to do another in 2015.

"A lot of people think BRAC is a scary word," said Jeff Hoagland, President of the Dayton Development Coalition. "I think we look at it a little bit differently".

Hoagland attributed the different perspective to the fact the Dayton-area has typically come out on top.

As a result of the 2005 BRAC, Wright Patterson gained more than 1,200 jobs and saw an investment exceeding $300-million dollars in construction.

"The growth that we had in BRAC 2005 was a key for WPAFB and the Springfield Air National Guard," said Retired General Greg Wayt. "Quite frankly, what happened in BRAC 2005 has set us up for the future".
    
The Dayton Development Coalition is now leading the charge in getting the community organized and fighting for the base's future. On Tuesday, local, state, and federal leaders met at Sinclair Community College to talk about strategy and how to get folks involved.

"I think that we have the best opportunity to be a winner in any future BRAC of any other base, out there in the country," said Fairborn City Manager Deborah McDonnell. "If I were to talk to the residents, I'd say, "help us out, be supportive when we need you and help us define a community outside the base, that supports the community inside the base".