HAVELOCK, N.C. (WNCT) - Imagine losing the biggest employer in your region. That would be devastating for the local economy and could leave thousands of people without jobs.
Well that’s what’s at stake for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and the Craven County government is already beginning to plan for the next round of base realignment and closure proceedings , commonly none as BRAC.
Armed with lobbyists and attorneys , both the City of Havelock and Craven Ccounty are fighting hard to prove to those in Washington the base is an asset the nation can’t afford to live without.
Attorney James Norment says it’s a delicate process to avoid realignment that downsizes, but at the same time positioning Cherry Point as an area that is eager to grow.
One of the biggest battles in BRAC is encroachment.
“Encroachment just means how the military mission interacts with the civilian outside world,” explains Norment.
Taking a closer look at the economic impact of cherry point as a whole..the fleet readiness center or f-r-c east is the largest industrial employer east of i-95 with nearly 4000 civilian employees who maintain and repair maintain helicopters and jets.
If BRAC came along and downsized the depot, even by a third, Norment says that could mean 100-million dollars in negative economic impact for the region.
But the attorneys , lobbyists, and elected officials can’t save Cherry Point alone.
The community coming together he says is an important part of illustrating cherry point’s worth.
For example the group Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT) provides local government, business, industry, and citizen support for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) East. To learn more about the group or how you can support Cherry Point including writing elected officials visit the ACT website: http://cherrypointallies.com/
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