Case Study: Ebbing Air National Guard Base
July 23, 2024Having a strong military presence is a significant economic driver in Arkansas. Throughout Arkansas, there are five military bases with highly skilled service members who are working to ensure our safety.
One of those bases is Ebbing Air National Guard Base, located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ebbing ANGB is the home of the 188th Wing and is operated by 1,000 National Guardsmen and Airmen.
It is also the site for a new Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program Pilot Training Center, which will provide F-16 and F-35 training for allied nations.
In 2020, the Department of the Air Force launched a search to determine the site for the FMS center. Ebbing ANGB was one of the sites evaluated, and it was selected as the preferred site in 2021.
Following site visits and an environmental impact analysis, Ebbing ANGB was named the location for the new Foreign Military Sales Program Pilot Training Center. This mission will bring approximately 900 miliary members and their families to the Fort Smith region.
Learn more about Ebbing ANGB and the Foreign Military Sales program in AEDC’s latest case study on this economic development win.
In this case study, you will learn about the background of the project, the challenges that Ebbing Air National Guard Base faced during the evaluation process, how Arkansas leaders overcame these challenges, and the ultimate outcomes.
