by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Enterprise Florida, a statewide business advocacy group, has offered a contract to Holland & Knight, LLP to form the state’s base realignment strategy. Pending ongoing negotiations, the contract will put former U.S. Rep. Tillie Fowler in control of Gov. Jeb Bush’s Base Realignment and Closure strategy.
BRAC is a Defense Department initiative that seeks to streamline the military by identifying and closing non-essential bases. Jacksonville lost Cecil Field Air Force Base to the last round of closures and area bases will be under scrutiny again during next year’s round. The military contributes more than $7 billion annually to the Jacksonville economy.
If Holland & Knight accepts, they will create a plan to represent all 21 statewide military facilities. City Military Affairs Coordinator Daniel McCarthy said Fowler’s involvement was “good news for us [Jacksonville].
“Any time Tillie is in a position of analysis for the State it’s good for Jacksonville,” said McCarthy. “She understands our facilities and politics and she cares deeply about the community.”
McCarthy said Fowler will be ideally situated to show the governor and the Defense Department how local bases will fit into the military’s more streamlined modern structure.
The City already benefits from Community Defense and Defense Infrastructure Grants, allocated from Gov. Bush through the Florida Defense Alliance, a branch of Enterprise Florida. The grants are provided to applicants where the funds are deemed to improve the chances for communities to retain or expand their military bases.