FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2005

HEATH, OHIO – In its just-released national publication, Profiles in Privatization, the NAID/ADC, an Association of Defense Communities, recognizes efforts at the former Newark Air Force Base as precedent-setting. The profile of the base, titled “Stability Solid as Bedrock: Privatization at the Former Newark Air Force Base,” was listed as an early precedent project and called “remarkable” by editor John Lynch in the publication’s introduction.

“Newark Air Force Base is the model for privatization-in-place established over nine years ago by the local jurisdictions surrounding the facility, the military and the contractor community is still relevant today,” said Jeffrey Finkle, Chief Executive Officer, NAID/ADC, and, coincidentally, a Newark, Ohio native. “Knowing what was accomplished in Heath, Ohio, defense communities wondering what the future holds for BRAC 2005 should feel there is more than one outcome following a base closure or realignment. This is a success that has not been achieved in many communities.”

NAID/ADC is the nation’s leading organization supporting communities with active, closed and closing defense installations. Profiles in Privatization is a guide for communities across the country to strengthening defense missions and recovering from base closings. The 2005 edition profiles a total of 27 communities from around the United States.

Newark Air Force Base was privatized in 1996 with much of the work done in the prior 34 years by an Air Force civilian workforce taken over by private contractors. Today, contractors, such as The Boeing Company and Bionetics, carry out the government contract work on the former base property. The facility, renamed Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center, is still known locally as “The Base.”

The article was authored by freelance writer Michael Brown with contributions from officials close to the privatization effort over the years, Wally Horton, Joe Renaud, and Rick Platt.

“It is indeed an honor to even be asked to participate,” said Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority Director Rick Platt regarding the invitation to submit a profile for publication. “The Base is a success story and recognition from NAID/ADC is third-party validation of that fact.”

For more information, including the full text of the article, visit the Port Authority’s web site at http://hnlcpa.com.