The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is joining the battle in a big way to help keep Scott Air Force Base open in Southern Illinois.
The association donated $100,000 toward efforts to preserve the base, which could be targeted as part of a Base Realignment and Closure process. The REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois and the Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS® have donated $50,000 each toward toward keeping the base open.
Under BRAC, a commission reviews military bases and can make recommendations for consolidations and closures. Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul was closed in 1993 as part of a BRAC review. In all, more than 350 military installations have been closed through the BRAC review process.
Scott AFB generates $3.2 billion of revenue for the region, and keeping the base open is a key issue for REALTORS® and others in the area.
Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois has raise $1.37 million toward a $3.2 million goal that will be used to persuade officials to keep the base open.