Macomb County Chamber of Commerce Pledges Support to Selfridge

The Macomb County Chamber of Commerce is joining local and state officials this week in pledging its support to maintain the A-10 program at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which is at risk of being eliminated if an Air Force proposal is approved.

The Chamber's support comes just days after Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing of the Harrison Township base. Read a PDF of the letter here.

Nearly 400 part-time and 250 full-time positions could be lost if the Air Force proposal to eliminate the A-10 squadron at the Macomb County base is approved. This uncertainty has personnel at the base concerned about the future of the squadron, and their positions.

More than 3,000 full-time civilian and military personnel work at the base, in addition to approximately 3,000 members of the Air and Army National Guard and the Reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces, according to the base's website.

In a March 22 email to its members, the Chamber wrote: "As the leading voice for business in Macomb County, the Macomb County Board of Directors voted to support the effort to save the A-10 Program at Selfridge. The Macomb County Chamber of Commerce believes eliminating the 107th Fighter Squadron would be harmful to our community, our state, and our nation."

The Macomb County Board of Commissioners also unanimously passed a proclamation in support of the personnel at Selfridge. Board Chair Kathy Vosburg reached out to Wayne, Oakland and St. Clair county boards to do the same. The commissioners' proclamation was sent to Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to indicate regional support from local legislators.

On March 12, Michigan Michigan's 15 U.S. representatives signed a letter voicing their concerns regarding the cuts to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. To read this letter, .

For more information on the proposed cuts, or to find example letters of support that can be mailed to representatives in Congress, visit SaveMiGuard.com.