JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND – The Air Force Civil Engineer Center launched an outreach program to help installations tap into the potential benefits of Enhanced Use Leases, or EULs.
AFCEC’s Enhanced Use Lease team is conducting as series of EUL Educational Staff Assistance Visits, or “EESAVs”, to emphasize the benefits of leasing underutilized Air Force property to private sector developers in exchange for cash and/or in-kind rent, and to provide in-person training on the program. The team has visited Dobbins, Dyess, Little Rock, Nellis, Offutt, Sheppard, Travis, Tyndall, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases. The next wave of visits will start at Tinker AFB in July.
“The intent of our EESAVs are to share knowledge and learn about the installation, their mission and needs,” said Patricia Rodriguez, AFCEC EUL Asset Project Manager. “They learn how EULs might help them meet unfunded requirements and receive additional positive outcomes such as increased efficiency or perhaps energy security improvements.”
It’s key to note that implementation of EULs are not required by law and that installations pursue EUL opportunities because the proceeds may be spent for their use in accomplishing projects not otherwise funded, said Lisa Schmidt, EUL Branch Execution Chief . “The EUL Program consistently demonstrates its value to installations and serves as a method to overcome numerous challenges.”
“Nellis AFB is an urban base with many opportunities for EULs. The EESAV team visit was key to kicking off the next round of EULs at Nellis AFB,” said Colonel Michael Davis, 99 Air Base Wing /CV. “The team’s knowledge and experience was extremely helpful in focusing our direction and efforts.”
Each EESAV is tailored to the installation and their local community. Installations have the option to include meetings with local non-Air Force stakeholders such as community leaders. The EUL Project Managers facilitate discussions between installations and their communities and highlight project benefits, such as increased employment opportunities and tax revenue to the community, as well as, profits for the developers.
The EUL program, centrally managed in San Antonio, Texas, is comprised of a team of real property, financial, and legal professionals, which has successfully negotiated and signed 13 EUL projects to date, and is actively working several more EUL opportunities with various installations.
“Over the past 15 years, AFCEC has developed a cadre of highly skilled individuals adept at negotiating complex real estate deals and managing those deals throughout the life of the lease,” said Jeff Domm, AFCEC EUL Program Director. “They have successfully executed projects resulting in signed leases for solar arrays, water reclamation facilities, commercial office space, hotels, restaurants, etc., for the next 20 to 50 years.”
To date, the EUL Program has returned $215 million to the Air Force through various projects ranging from energy to commercial real estate development.