The Miami County Economic Development Authority recently announced the formation of a new subcommittee which will focus on defense growth and expansion in north central Indiana.
The subcommittee, referred to as the Grissom Regional Defense Alliance, was formed in cooperation and partnership with the Grissom Community Council, according to a press release from the Miami County Economic Development Authority. Volunteer members of the community council from the participating counties of Cass, Howard, Miami and Wabash, along with board members of the Economic Development Authority, comprise the alliance.
The alliance has established four focal point area to achieve its goals and strategies: protect, grow, pursue and educate.
A major effort is currently underway with the strategy of growing the military's presence at Grissom Air Reserve Base. The 434th Air Refueling Wing is currently under consideration, as one of 18 total Air Force Reserve bases, for the new KC-46A aircraft refueling tanker.
The new KC-46A tanker is a little larger, more powerful and more efficient than the current 50-year-old KC-135, thus providing more refueling capability.
The process to select the first reserve base is very competitive and not only involves the physical capacity of the base to meet the require of the new aircraft, i.e., runway size, aircraft parking ramp space, etc., but the cooperation and partnership of the community to help support the new aircraft and increased personnel.
The alliance believes that the new squadron of KC046A aircraft will also include an active associate squadron of aircrew, maintenance and support personnel coming to Grissom ARB.
The alliance has been in conversation and meetings with several state agencies. MCEDA indicates the meetings have been extremely successful in building momentum and support for the aircraft as well as other defense objectives and initiatives of the alliance.