Government officials today confirmed the intent to cancel the Air Force's version of the "Global Hawk's" unmanned drone program based at Beale Air Force Base.
Residents and workers in Yuba and Sutter Counties are just beginning to assess the potential economic hit to the region.
Yuba County is a place where the signs of a struggling economy can be felt almost everywhere you turn. Businesses are closed and people are out of jobs. In fact, Yuba County has California's highest unemployment rate at 18.9%.
Now think about how much that would grow if you eliminate the Global Hawk program at Beale Air Force Base, a place that Yuba County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Nicole Delerio says provides plenty of support for the struggling county.
"Beale's been around for a long time, it's very infiltrated in our area. It's not uncommon to see people in their military gear shopping around and visiting businesses," said Delerio.
One of those places is located right next to the base. It's a bait and tackle shop run by Mike Searcy.
"A good 20-25% of my business comes from the Air Force Base. If i was to lose that business, it's just another blow to the small businessman," said Searcy.
Seth Powers cuts hair at a barber shop also located next to the base. He says a lot of their clientèle also comes from Beale.
"I'd say probably 30-40%, we get at least 1 to 2 military guys a day depending upon how busy the day. I think they should be putting jobs in rather than taking them out just because you want businesses to grow not to be shut down or run down."
"It would be quite upsetting. Of course this is just one mission out at Beale, but still we don't want to see Beale not become a resource here locally," said Delerio.
Beale Air Force Base in one of the regions largest employers, home to more than 4,500 military personnel, mostly Air Force, and about 1,200 civilians, either directly or through contractors. The most recent statistics, from 2009, show an annual civilian payroll of $86 million.
