Local Officials Partnering With F.E. Warren AFB

Local government and economic officials are partnering with F.E. Warren Air Force Base in an effort to fully integrate the base into the community.

F.E. Warren is not only home to the 90th Missile Wing, it also boasts an 18-hole golf course and ball fields.

Laramie County Commissioner Amber Ash says local officials are looking at different ways to utilize those services.

"We have different facilities and rather than duplicating them we need to be able to take advantage or expand what we currently have in order to make it better meet our needs," said Ash.  "We need to make sure that F.E. Warren continues to be strong in our community because they are such an important function of Cheyenne's economy."

Dale Steenbergen, President and CEO of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, says F.E. Warren and the National Guard generate nearly $800 million a year and it's an economic imperative that we keep the military in Cheyenne.

"The military is the largest employer in this community and beyond that I believe it is a source of pride and honor for us as a community to maintain that presence," said Steenbergen.  "That's the reason Cheyenne exists. Cheyenne and the military started here the same day."

Steenbergen says if the Cheyenne community doesn't fight for our military assets other communities will happily do that and they will win the battle.