Building 200 Repair and Renovation Underway

Repair and renovation has begun for Building 200, a 61,000 square foot hangar, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This renovation includes code and ADA compliance updates, roof repair, asbestos and lead abatement, conversion of the fire suppression system, and security system upgrades. This project was awarded in September of 2024 and construction is currently well underway.

More Construction on the Horizon

Last week, the Corps of Engineers began soliciting for three major construction projects. We were pleased to forward these opportunities to our members in the construction, infrastructure, and utility categories. As a Chamber of Commerce, we always want our members to be amongst the first to know about these announcements. These projects include the F35 Academic Training Center, the F35 3-Bay Hangar and the new F35 Special Access Program Facility (SAPF). These are federal contracts overseen by the Department of Defense. The Chamber remains actively engaged so we can share information with our members.  

142nd Field Artillery Brigade Participates in Send-Off Ceremony

On December 1, 2025, approximately 100 soldiers from the Arkansas Army National Guard's 142nd Field Artillery Brigade participated in a send-off ceremony at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Fort Smith, as they prepared for deployment to Washington, D.C.. 

Their initial departure was planned for December 1 but was postponed due to a weather delay. The soldiers ultimately flew out of Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith the following morning, December 2, aboard a C-130 aircraft from the 189th Airlift Wing.

The ceremony on December 1 was attended by family members and officials, including Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Brigadier General Chad Bridges, the Adjutant General of Arkansas. Officials stressed the importance of the mission and the sacrifice of the soldiers and their families during the holiday season.

The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, headquartered in Fayetteville, has members assigned to 12 units located in several counties, primarily in Northwest Arkansas, making Fort Smith and Fort Chaffee key locations for its operations and training. 

(Photo from River Valley Democrat-Gazette. Read Article Here.)

Chamber Hosts Informative Session on Essential Operations at Ebbing Air National Guard Base

Thank you to Lt. Col. Michael Krom, Deputy Commander of the 188th Mission Support Group, for spending time with us and sharing insight on the essential operations that keep Ebbing Air National Guard Base mission-ready each day.

We appreciate the opportunity to learn how his team drives the success of every mission—through leadership in communications, logistics, security, personnel, and civil engineering. Lt. Col. Krom also shared thoughtful insight on leadership that resonates far beyond the military and can be applied to any role or organization.

We are grateful for his commitment to service and for taking the time to connect with our Chamber members.

Does your business offer a military discount?

We have put together a tab on our website that features businesses in our area that offer military discounts! This page is shared with the community and military members. Click below to fill out the form and tell us about the perks and discounts you offer!