Terre Haute Chamber testifies in support of military base grant program
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and its West Central Defense Network initiative offered testimony Thursday at the Indiana Statehouse in support of funding that could be used to support Indiana's military bases, including the 181st Intelligence Wing in Terre Haute.
The Indiana Military Base Infrastructure Grant Program would provide for an annual $25 million fund to be administered by the Indiana Defense Task Force.
'The allocation of these funds are an investment in Indiana's future, not an expense, with great potential for high returns from new economic opportunities created as a result,' Chamber President and CEO Kristin Craig said in a news release.
'The 181st Intelligence Wing plays a vital role in national security, employing around 500 personnel with Top Secret clearances and working in cutting-edge fields like cybersecurity, intelligence analysis and geospatial technologies.'
According to additional testimony provided during Thursday's hearing, military-focused economic development groups warned that not investing in such facilities could put Indiana at risk of 'Base Realignment and Closure,' a process where the Department of Defense may close select military installations.
'This base is more than just a military installation — it's a critical economic driver that supports hundreds of high-tech, high-paying jobs and strengthens our local economy. These are exactly the kinds of jobs we need more of in Indiana — high-skill, high-wage positions that keep our best and brightest in the state,' Craig said.
'For us to continue to attract and retain talent, which allows us to attract new defense missions, private investment and new federal contracts that create more of these opportunities, we must ensure the 181st Intelligence Wing has modern, reliable infrastructure, capable of meeting the needs of current military strategies.
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