Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC)

The 2005 Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) round is impacting communities across the country. However, BRAC activity can actually be used to spur local economic growth if implemented effectively. A recent study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the majority of communities affected by the past four BRAC rounds eventually recovered from a base closure and a significant number were fairing better. Keys to successful recovery based on best practice research conducted by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) include:

Comprehensive and realistic strategic plans developed early in the BRAC process,
Community stakeholder involvement and consensus, and
Appropriately leveraged governmental resources such as guidance, technical assistance and funding.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) builds on best practice models to assist local communities impacted by BRAC. CTC’s competencies in economic development, workforce development, research, brownfields redevelopment and remediation enable us to successfully meet client needs.

Integrator and Collaboration Builder
CTC understands the issues and “language” of all the partners involved in BRAC initiatives: DoD officials, local community organizations, the business community, local governments and contractors. CTC staff members leverage this understanding of the key players and our knowledge of BRAC processes to facilitate effective collaborations that quickly and effectively transition government properties and facilities into private-sector use. CTC also has the outreach and communication expertise needed to include the public in the decision-making process, including working with relevant nonprofit stakeholder groups and volunteer organizations.

Strategic Planner
CTC’s economic and community development professionals help communities to create common visions for the end use of the government property and facilities. Through detailed industry and community research, stakeholder participation and knowledge of national best practices, the CTC team develops strategic reuse plans that integrate with the community’s economy and ethos to create new jobs and spur future economic development for the region.

Technical Program Manager
The process of transitioning government property to the private sector can involve a wide range of programs that include brownfields redevelopment, workforce development, UXO remediation, property development, and economic development. CTC possesses the requisite technical expertise in all of these areas to effectively manage these programs while working with local contractors to implement the initiatives. This ensures that federal BRAC funds flow back to local firms, sustaining the local economy while at the same time leveraging the technical know-how and capabilities of CTC’s employees.

CTC also works with communities that have a high economic dependence on military expenditures. Federal funding is available to assist these communities in developing economic diversification plans. CTC is working with municipal and county governments in various locations across the country to apply for these grants and implement effective projects. CTC assists in the development of actionable strategies that lead to sustained economic growth.