McConnell impact to community grows with KC-46A Published Dec. 12, 2014 By Senior Airman Trevor Rhynes 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Officials released the 2014 Economic Impact Statement, highlighting the more than $200 million increase in impact to the local economy. The EIS is an annual report that provides information about the effect McConnell has on the community in four ways: personnel, payroll, expenditures and indirect jobs created. "The growth in our economic impact statement reflects the activities taking place at McConnell as we prepare to take on a new aircraft in 2016," said Col. Joel Jackson, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "We have begun preparing the base for the arrival of these aircraft, and we will continue working with the local community to ensure the success of our mission." This year's statement reflects an increase of more than $203 million dollars than last year's impact to the community. The majority of the increase is coming from the construction of several facilities that will support the KC-46A Pegasus when it arrives in 2016. "Having as large of an impact as we do is very beneficial to the local community, since having the base here puts approximately $754 million dollars total into the community," said John Hardy, 22nd Comptroller Squadron deputy comptroller. "Anytime you get three quarters of a billion dollars into a community is pretty good and the community shows it's appreciation for us just as much as we show an appreciation for them." Copies of the EIS are distributed to on-base leaders and leaders in the community. "We give copies of the statement to community leaders to show how exactly how we benefit the community," Hardy said. The EIS can be viewed on the McConnell website here.