By Larry Jones
November 9, 2009

Hallandale Beach (FL) Mayor Joy Cooper and El Paso Mayor John Cook told over 850 delegates from diverse backgrounds that effective communications and cooperation between local leaders and military base commanders are the keys to building good community-military relations during a November 3 panel discussion on “Partnering with States and Communities.” The discussion was one of many sessions featured at the four-day “Partnering for Success Conference” in Orlando sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Adjustment Assistance.

The conference was sponsored to bring together state and local officials, representatives from the private sector and various other stakeholders with military base commanders and representatives from numerous federal agencies to discuss how to better assist communities facing military base closings and realignments. Mayors, state legislators, city council members, county board members, city managers, community planners and community development directors from affected communities were just a few of the people invited to the conference.

Cooper, who serves as Vice Chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Task Force on Community and Military Relations, told delegates that there are 14 military bases in Florida and that she has reached out to some of the mayors of cities where those bases are located. In talking with them, she is convinced that is important for military base leaders to work with mayors to establish good lines of communications, to collaborate on available resources to assist cities undergoing transition as a result of a military actions, and to make sure each side knows what is expected of them.

Cook told delegates that El Paso is facing enormous growth with about 60,000 military personnel expected to move to the area. He said the biggest challenge he faces is providing affordable housing. The military bases will only be able to provide about 20 to 30 percent of the housing that these people will need. The city will have to provide the rest. To address this need the city must build 8,000 apartment units at a time when credit is very tight.

Providing education and transportation to the new military personnel also present a challenge. In response, the city has issued $800 million in school bonds to address the additional education needs. Further, the city has entered a public-private partnership to fund a seven and a half-mile freeway to assist people in getting on and off the military bases. He said the public-private partnership has been very effective in raising the funds needed to pay for this project.

Cook explained that it is important that demographic information on military personnel moving into communities be shared with local leaders as soon as possible to allow as much time as possible for planning. He said DOD’s Office of Economic Adjustment is at good providing this type of information on its website.

In an earlier panel, representatives from federal agencies discussed various federal programs available to assist local communities affected by defense program changes. Mathy Stanislaus, from the Environmental Protection Agency, told delegates that the agency oversees the clean up of contaminated properties before they are turned over to local governments. Victor Vasquez, from the Department of Agriculture, discussed a number of programs available to assist military personnel including the Food Nutrition Program and Women Infants and Children. He said the Department received about $20 billion for the current fiscal year and another $25 billion in stimulus funds, and is ready to assist communities and military personnel facing transition issues.

Jane Oates, from the Department of Labor, discussed a number of programs available to help retrain and retool people who are out of a job due to military downsizing or base closings. Eric Waldo, from the U.S. Department of Education, discussed the $5 billion discretionary education program, the $4.3 billion Race-to-the-Top program, the Common Stance Initiative and Impact Aid to defense impacted communities. Jay Reich, from the Department of Commerce, discussed loans and grants available to local communities through the Economic Development Administration to help spur private sector development in affected communities. John Baxter, from the Department of Transportation, discussed assistance available to assist local communities deal with transportation needs.