Enid delegation reports Washington trip; officials cite continued support for Vance Air Force Base projects

Mayor David M. Mason and other commissioners reported results from the city’s recent legislative trip to Washington, D.C., saying meetings with Pentagon officials and members of Congress reinforced support for Vance Air Force Base and related local projects.

Mason told the commission the delegation met with a four‑star Air Force staff officer and with the Under Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, and that officials “were just so receptive to us and listened to us ask lots of questions.” He said the delegation also met with members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation; the mayor said those lawmakers expressed interest in local priorities and offered assurances that federal funding would begin flowing “in the next 30 to 30 days.”

Mason credited long‑standing local relationships for the city’s success in securing military and infrastructure dollars and said longtime economic‑development official Mike Cooper has helped the city attract funding over many years. Mason estimated in the meeting that Cooper’s efforts have brought “somewhere around $400,000,000 to our community,” phrasing the sum as an estimate.

Commissioners confirmed that the trip included meetings on community priorities such as base infrastructure and school projects tied to the military presence. The mayor noted a recent $1,200,000 check discussed at the Pentagon that would go toward a new elementary school on base; he said the check had been signed by a staff official involved in installations decisions. Commissioners said other states have used parts of Enid’s legislative approach, including local regulation of wind‑turbine siting to avoid interference with training patterns.

The commission described the trip as part of ongoing work to secure grants and federal program dollars; officials said staff will continue follow‑up with federal contacts and report back to the commission on next steps.