A MQ-9 Reaper, flown by members of the 107th Operations Group, 107th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard, prepares to remotely land at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, N.Y. on August 9, 2023. (Michael Janker/U.S. Air Force)
(Tribune News Service) — More federal funding could be coming for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
The Niagara Military Affairs Council and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority worked to get a $500,000 federal grant, which would lead to the creation of a compatible use plan and a military installation resilience use plan for the air base.
NIMAC Chairman John Cooper Sr. and Niagara Falls International Airport Director of Aviation Lee Weitz said grant money will go toward hiring a consultant who determines what possible projects are feasible. The funding comes from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, part of the Department of Defense.
“This can result in federal grant dollars to invest in projects outside the gates of the base, in the county and at the airport,” said Cooper when he announced this grant to the Niagara County Legislature this past October.
The NFTA wrote the grant, as it required a local non-military government agency to be the lead agency. It hired Michael Baker International as a project consultant in October.
Weitz said it is too early to say what kinds of projects they would pursue, as there could be a number of projects to improve the installation.
“We don’t want the military coming back saying the surrounding area around the airport isn’t compatible with their mission,” Weitz said.
Cooper said these projects can be something as simple as improved road access and drainage to other base structures. Fort Drum near Watertown built a YMCA as part of the funding it received.
According to the United States Department of Defense, the Installation Resilience Plan enables states and communities to partner with their local military installations to collectively respond to either encroachment of a civilian community or threats to the continued operations of the base.
The NFTA, NIMAC, and other community stakeholders will meet with Michael Baker International on Tuesday to start the process.
“We’re in the very beginnings of something that would benefit the community around the base,” Cooper said, noting the NIMAC has advocated to bring in millions of dollars worth of projects to the air base.
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