TITLE
Consider a memorandum/resolution approving the submittal of a Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) application for a potential Robert Gray Army Airfield Project.
SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
DEAAG Grant Application for Robert Gray Army Airfield Project
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
City Manager/Aviation
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Program (DEAAG), created in 1997, is an infrastructure grant program designed to assist defense communities that are responding to or recovering from either expanded or reduced military missions, or that have been positively or negatively impacted by a change in defense contracts or an announced change. Funding can also be used proactively to support installations in the event of a change or announced change by the Department of Defense. This funding is available to local municipalities to be used for negatively or positively affected communities or for projects that will increase the military value of the military installation. Grants awarded may range from $50,000 to $5 million per project.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
A team from the City of Killeen and Fort Hood met to discuss and ultimately determine projects which met the criteria set forth in the basic grant guidelines and selected a project that is critical to the mission of Fort Hood as well as provides beneficial use to the Killeen Fort Hood Regional Airport (KFHRA) and the City of Killeen. This project is the renovation and rehabilitation of the Robert Gray Army Airfield (RGAAF) Army Radar Approach Control (ARAC) Facility. The ARAC houses equipment that enables qualified personnel to control all aircraft within a sixty (60) mile radius of RGAAF. More importantly, this facility directly controls the restricted airspace and military operating areas around Fort Hood that permit the training of its troops, including necessary live-fire training and unmanned aerial systems operations. Without this facility, Fort Hood would be unable to meet its power projection mission, its training mission, or its Army aviation mission. Equally, without the ARAC, the KFHRA would not function as the region’s premier commercial service airport. This facility is a high-priority project which meets the needs of the Army, the City, the community, and the DEAAG Program. The project grant will be requested to fund 80% of the total project cost; the remaining 20% will be the required sponsor match.
FISCAL IMPACT
Total project cost is estimated to be $4,500,000. Design, engineering, and construction are estimated to be $3,600,000, thus the match requirement is $900,000. The match will be met with $750,000 of “in-kind” services provided by the Army; the remaining $150,000 will also be funded by the Army through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend the Council approve the submission of a DEAAG application.