SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS ANNOUNCES AIR FORCE ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS WILL MOVE TO MAINE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced a re-alignment of the accounting and financial operations for the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to Limestone. Senator Collins has been a strong advocate of expanding the role of the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) currently operating at the Limestone facility.

"The realignment will create more than 80 jobs and provide $4 million in salaries into the local economy," said Senator Collins. "This decision is vital not only to the region's economy but also to the cost-efficient operations now being provided by the employees."

"The Defense Finance and Accounting Service continually looks for ways to improve the quality of its services and reduce the costs to our customers in the Department of Defense," said Thomas R. Bloom, Director of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. "By taking smart management actions like this one, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service has reduced costs to our customers by $143 million from 2001-2002."

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center at the Loring Commerce Center has played an integral role in the Loring Development Authority's (LDA) development efforts. DFAS provided the LDA with a stimulus of activity very early on in the process and is the cornerstone of the rebirth of Loring. DFAS recently completed an approximately $6 million renovation of its facility at Loring allowing it to accommodate a workforce of up to 525 employees.

The Limestone Field Organization serves all 18 Air Force bases and 20 associated Air National Guard units of the Air Force's Air Combat Command, stretching across 22 states, two foreign countries and southwest Asia.

"This announcement recognizes not only the quality of work being done by these valuable employees, but also the quality of life offered in Northern Maine," said Senator Collins.