The U.S. Air Force gave Spokane economic development advocates reason to cheer—and alleviated some fear—when it announced earlier this week that it would be expanding the size of the Fairchild Air Force Base’s air-refueling fleet. 

Twelve KC-135 Stratotankers will be reassigned to Fairchild from McConnell Air Force Base, in Kansas, when that base receives the first batch of next generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers in 2020. Along with the 12 big planes, the additional squadron and aircraft-maintenance unit will bring 500 additional active-duty personnel and dependents. Unless something dramatically shifts in Spokane’s economy, Fairchild will cement itself further as the top employer in Spokane County. 

The Air Force estimates that the move will have a $19.5 million annual, direct economic impact on the Spokane area. And with 60 KC-135s stationed here after the move, Spokane will be able to boast being home to the Air Force’s largest tanker fleet. 

Some might feel like the additional tankers are a consolation prize after the Air Force passed over on Fairchild twice when deciding where to station the KC-46As. But even if it’s not as big a win as it might have been, it’s the end to a losing streak. 

As I thought about the Fairchild news, my mind drifted down U.S. 2 a half mile or so to the Spokane Tribe Casino that’s under construction. The tribe released its logo for the planned casino last week and explained the cultural significance of some of its elements. Two horses face each other in the logo, and the tribe described that as one horse looking back at the tribe’s past and another looking ahead to its future. 

The casino project is coming out of the ground after a years-long, politically charged debate over whether it should be allowed on nontribal land.

Prior to approval, I was like a lot of the project’s detractors. I didn’t care about the proliferation of gambling on the West Plains, and I certainly didn’t have any ill will against the Spokane Tribe. My concerns began and ended with the effects of having a bright, busy casino so close to an Air Force base—once again, the Spokane area’s biggest employer—that isn’t a big fan of encroachments, in an environment in which the U.S. is looking to close bases every few years.

Proponents dismissed those concerns, saying the casino doesn’t encroach on the base, and the Air Force wouldn’t shutter Fairchild because of it. When Gov. Jay Inslee approved the project, I thought, “Well, you damn well better be right.”

Maybe they are right, though I don’t know that we can draw that conclusion from this week’s announcement.

But a big commitment to expand Fairchild’s mission is encouraging, especially after missing out on the KC-46As earlier this year.

It’s in everybody’s best interest for the base and the Spokane Tribe’s development to thrive as neighbors. Ideally, the base and the casino will be able co-exist for decades to come.