TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, along with its West Central Defense Network imitative, testified at the Indiana Statehouse in support of funding that could be used to support Indiana military bases, Thursday.
The Indiana Military Base Infrastructure Grant Program is outlined in an accompanying bill, that would provide the Indiana Defense Task Force with an annual $25 million fund to be administered.
One military base in Indiana that the chamber says could benefit from this funding is the 181st Intelligence Wing in Terre Haute.
“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.
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 li
cybersecurity, intelligence analysis and geospatial technologies,” said Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kristin Craig.
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce added that additional testimonies from military-focused economic development groups warned that not investing in such facilities could put Indiana at risk of “Base Realignment and Closure”. This process is 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 went on to
explain. “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,” said Craig.
