San Angelo receives Defense Economic Adjustment Assistant Grant Published April 15, 2016 By Senior Airman Joshua Edwards 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Texas’ Military Preparedness Commission awarded San Angelo with a $2 million Defense Economic Adjustment Assistant Grant which they are using to renovate Bldg. 900. These renovations will help Goodfellow train approximately 130 to 200 foreign military students a year. "Goodfellow will use the Texas grant along with contributions from the City of San Angelo Development Corporation to fund the conversion of an existing building into a premiere International Training Center," said Col. Michael L. Downs, 17th Training Wing Commander. "Over 30 countries have an interest in training at Goodfellow. The International Training Center will be the cornerstone of our ability to conduct that training. Ultimately, I'm excited about the impact this will have on our national security." Texas' MPC also gave grants to several other towns with bases nearby in an effort to prevent them from closing if there is a round of Base Realignment and Closure. "There hasn't been a BRAC in many years and there hasn't been a discussion of a BRAC anytime soon, but the political climate could change," said Mike J. Noret, 17th Civil Engineer Squadron base deputy. "The state of Texas wants to invest money into its military installations to strengthen them if there ever is a next round." The renovation is slated for completion in the summer of 2017.
