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Show Contracts open "If you are in any business, chances of us (the MX system) using you are great," Lurman A. Neal told southwestern Utah businessmen Friday morning. "You just need to identify to us what you do." Neal, chief of the Air Force's Small Business Utilization Office, was in Cedar City to describe MX subcontracting opportunities op-portunities for local businesses. He told the group southern Utah would see significant economic growth with the construction con-struction of MX, much of , which would directly benefit local businesses. "The need for labor, and goods and services will cause rapid growth here, there's no doubt about that," Neal said. "What I'm wondering is if the people here are aware of that, and are ready to take firm hold of it." The business liaison chief said Air Force bases "usually go to local people for goods and services," and are encouraged en-couraged and even occasionally oc-casionally required by law to do so. Construction on the operating bases, one each to be located in Utah and Nevada should the entire I system be based in the ' two states, is scheduled to begin in 1982, he said. "If they are ready to go by then, all the jobs will have been bid and the contractors identified by the end of this year," Neal said. He estimated a large base would employ 13,000 and a small base 8,000-10,000. 8,000-10,000. "though I would hate to put a number on it because it might change." The Air Force-preferred Force-preferred site for the large base is Coyote Springs Valley, Nev., and the small base near Milford. Neal promised to keep the Utah business community informed of bids announced and awarded through public notices, and said a Site Activation Force would come in ahead of the base's construction to provide additional information. in-formation. When asked why a local MX business information office was being located at Hill Air Force Base instead of southern Utah, Neal acknowledged that "it won't help us to have an office up there (Hill AFB), if the base is going to be down there. I'll spread the word." He did say he anticipated an-ticipated considerable work out of the Hill office would be conducted in southern Utah, and that perhaps a field office would be set up in the area. |