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localId
7338012
label
Topeka, Kansas-- Closure of Forbes Air Force Base [Fact Sheet]
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doc
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document
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1
Source metadata
id
7338012
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Topeka, Kansas-- Closure of Forbes Air Force Base [Fact Sheet]
citationUrl
collections
White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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1
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naId
7338012
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productionDates
day
11
logicalDate
1975-02-11
month
2
year
1975
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description
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nara-archive
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1
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0
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document
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e043abfba63631a1
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Digitized from Box 7 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library [2-11-75]
TOPEKA, KANSAS
In April 1973, the Department of Defense announced the closure of Forbes
Air Force Base, located six miles south of Topeka and 65 miles east of
Kansas City, Kansas. The closure action resulted in the net reduction
of 1,241 military and 83 civilians which represented the second largest
employer ($39 million annual payroll) in the community. The base
actually closed in September 1974 in terms of basic Air Force activities.
On November 22, 1974, the Air Force also announced that the SAC
satellite B-52 and tanker mission would also be relocated from Forbes.
Mayor William McCormick and the city leaders have organized an effective
base re-use and industrial development program. The Topeka Airport
Authority has been formed (January 1975) to operate the new municipal
airport at Forbes and the existing Philip-Billard airport. The Forbes
airport facilities will be conveyed to the city by the Federal Aviation
Administration on or about July 1, 1975. Air Force support will continue
for the operation of the airfield under civilian control. To date, the Airport
Authority has already attracted 300 new civilian jobs to the former Forbes
complex.
The military housing (1,054) at Cullen Village has been placed under a
Protection and Maintenance contract with the city whereby the city operates
the housing for low and moderate income families on a no loss guarantee
from the Air Force. The City already has 400 of the units occupied and is
scheduled to purchase the Cullen Village project from the General Services
Administration in May 1975.
The base hospital will be transferred to the community without cost.
Likewise, the community plans to acquire the golf course and other
recreational activities without cost from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.
Facilities for a drug abuse and dental training program will likewise be
made available without cost to the local community.
The Forbes conversion has represented a difficult task for the Topeka
community but the program to date has been successful. With the creation
of the Airport Authority industrial development effort in January 1975,
it is expected that Topeka will be able to secure full use of the airport and
related industrial facilities with new civilian employment well beyond even
the current 300 job level on the base.