Programs Information

Base realignment, closure, growth, and industry adjustment can mark a new beginning for a community. When any of these events occur, local leaders are given the task of either reinventing the base’s usefulness, building new infrastructure, ensuring the mission of the base is maintained, and/or replacing hundreds to thousands of jobs. While it can seem overwhelming, with leadership, cooperation, and creativity, it is possible to meet these challenges and even prosper in such fields such as transportation, education, commerce, industry, new neighborhoods, community support services, recreation, and conservation.

Keys to Success

Regardless of what initiated OEA support (BRAC, growth, Defense Industry Adjustment, compatible use), OEA staff, through years of working with communities, have identified the following keys to success:

Proper Organization A single representative organization is paramount. Bring the stakeholders together throughout the process, from the conceptual visioning stage through short- and long-term planning, job creation, and economic stabilization.	Diverse & Committed Leadership Public and private sector leaders must work together to provide continuing priority support to adjustment efforts.	Comprehensive Strategy These situations enable a community to make significant changes. This challenge requires a strategy that broadly addresses change and encompasses community needs.
Consensus Stakeholder acceptance of plans helps avoid the contentious issues that may delay action.	Implementation Follow through on the recommendations developed by community leaders after consensus is reached.	Realistic Marketing Every community has opportunities. The trick is to use sound business analysis to find those that have the most potential.
Patience Positive change cannot occur overnight. Regardless of the type of community transformation, it can take years to fully realize plans.	Government Support Leverage the guidance, technical assistance, and financial resources available through OEA and all levels of government to help plan and implement strategies.

Assistance Programs

Programs Information

Keys to Success