Kris Kirschner/ Eyewitness News
Crane Naval Base, June 6 - EG&G , which provides technical and engineering support to the Crane Naval Warfare Base mission, is one of many companies under contract by Crane and possibly an indirect target of a recommendation to transfer nearly 700 jobs from the southern Indiana base.
"It did not take into consideration the number of contractors supporting those same functions if the functions leave." EG&G's James Schonberger estimates another 300 jobs lost if the Base Realignment and Closure Commission follows the recommendations announced earlier this month.
That is why he, along with state and local officials, hoped to make a good impression as they hosted one of the BRAC commissioners at Crane Monday morning.
Commissioner Sam Skinner called the base "a great facility with a lot of great people."
Crane is the 12th largest employer in the state, but most important to the small southern Indiana communities which rely on it as an economic base.
Loogootee Mayor Don Bowling says, "Anything happens to our jobs, most of those people don't have anywhere to go."
"In a close call, economic value and impact on the community will play a role," said Skinner.
After a four-hour visit on base, Skinner told reporters and members of the community he will check for mistakes in the data used to make the recommendations and promised to keep an open mind. "Nothing is final."
With nearly 1,000 jobs on the line, many hold out hope that when it comes time to make the final decision, Crane still has a fighting chance.
Schonberger thinks, "we might see some, if not all, of the recommendations change."
While Bowling believes, "we'll get a fair shake. It's all we can ask for."
