DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANG), will be the beneficiary of nearly $30 million as it plans to build a new hangar.
A number of state officials including Governor Gretchen Whitmer were present for the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for the new 41,900 square foot facility.
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“The new facility will house maintenance on the main level and leadership/staff offices and classrooms on the second floor,” the Governor’s office said in a statement.
Gov. Whitmer also claimed that it would create hundreds of good paying jobs and “shore up” the bases military readiness.
“We have been working with bipartisan and private sector partners to make more investments in Selfridge by making critical infrastructure upgrades, and we will keep fighting to bring home a new fighter mission. Selfridge is an anchor of Macomb County and an economic driver for Michigan’s defense industry,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Let’s keep working together for Selfridge.”
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs weighed in voicing his appreciation for the new funding for the base.
“This investment clearly demonstrates Michigan’s commitment to SANG, its support for developing future capabilities and advancing innovation and delivering on our mission to maintain our military readiness and support our national defense,” he said.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the base comes just two months after the base was told that it would not be the recipient of the new international training center for the F-35 fighter aircraft mission, which would instead make its final home in Arkansas.
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Despite multiple requests to U.S. Air Force Secretary Kendall from Governor Whitmer, and promises to help fund the enterprise of using Selfridge Base, the Air Force opted for Ebbing Air National Guard Base at Force Smith in Arkansas.
Part of the Governor’s efforts to sway the Air Force to use Michigan as the destination included a pledge to use almost $100 million in state tax dollars to offset the costs of upgrading facilities and infrastructure at the base.
Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) has previously advocated for the mission to be instituted at Selfridge and also commented on the Air Force’s decision.
“While I am disappointed that Selfridge wasn’t selected for the F-35, our fight for the base’s future is far from over,” Senator Hertel said in an email to Michigan News Source, “As Chair of the Appropriations subcommittee on Military, Veterans, and State Police, I will continue working to ensure that our state is well-positioned to host one of the many next-generation fighter missions coming online in the next few years.”
The new hangar will work to combine two existing hangars into one facility.
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