Some folks call it an I-G-S-A while to others it’s an “igg-suh”, but however the term is pronounced, it’s always said in a positive light. Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) are a valuable form of partnership between the United States military and state or local governments. That’s why we at the MEC are thrilled that Beaufort County approved a resolution to enter into an IGSA with the Department of Defense last month.
IGSAs are structured agreements designed to allow military installations and their local surrounding communities to assist each other. The concept is only a decade old, having been created in 2013 by an act of Congress which gave military services the authority to negotiate agreements with local and state governments for the provision, receipt, or sharing of installation and community support services. These agreements benefit installations primarily by providing cost savings through sharing services or contracts with local governments. Concurrently, communities often are afforded streamlined business opportunities from an installation or the ability to coordinate training or operations with military law enforcement or emergency services. Today there are hundreds of IGSAs that cover a variety of civil-military topics across the nation. A 2018 study estimated that the monetary benefits of just eight of these partnerships will generate cost savings of at least $9 million between all participants.
Beaufort County’s IGSA is all the more special because it is a regional IGSA covering all three Federal installations in the County – MCAS Beaufort, MCRD Parris Island, and Naval Hospital Beaufort. According to the Beaufort County Council, the agreement will act as a vehicle to provide general governance services between the county and these installations. As stated in the County’s press release:
This Intergovernmental Support Agreement represents a significant continuation in the partnership between Beaufort County and our esteemed local military installations. The IGSA provides a meaningful way for local jurisdictions to offer support to these installations and their overall missions. By extending our services, we not only enhance the operational efficiency of these vital facilities but also underscore the support of the county for the men and women who serve our nation at these facilities.
As this blog has covered multiple times, community support for a local military installation shows the Department of Defense that its investments are being welcomed and any further investments will be able to achieve their fullest potential. Beaufort County’s significant action to increase our local partnerships with our military installations is a welcome step in the right direction to not only support our military and national defense but also to continue to preserve the benefits those installations bring for all residents of Beaufort county. Read the MEC’s official statement in support of the new IGSA here!
