That leaves a net loss of 145 jobs at Hill, which has more than 23,000 civilian and military employees.

Hill also loses six of its older Block 30 F-16 fighter jets and the support personnel that go with them. But it gets six new Block 40 F-16s.

And that, the delegation agrees, is great news because the Air Force is signaling that Hill is no longer a facility for older, obsolete aircraft but will be on the cutting edge for state-of-the-art fighters. The Air Force has already announced a maintenance depot for the new FA-22 fighter, and the delegation is optimistic the new F-35 joint strike fighter will find a home there as well.

"The Air Force is viewing Hill as a long-term center for F-16s," Bennett said. "And that makes it easier for us to move forward with a plan to recruit private contractors. It says Hill is stable and they can make capital investments in Hill, knowing it is going to be here for a long, long time."

An efficient work force

The Utah Legislature appropriated $5.6 million to facilitate efforts to expand Hill's economic viability.

That, coupled with the Air Force vote of confidence, has the delegation giddy that the reduction in jobs at Hill is a momentary blip and that employment — and the scope of missions at Hill — will increase dramatically.

"It's a really bizarre feeling," said Rep. Rob Bishop, whose 1st Congressional District includes Hill Air Force Base, Dugway Proving Ground, Tooele Army Depot and Deseret Chemical Depot. "I feel like a kid at Christmas who opens his gifts and really likes them, and now I want more."

Added Bennett, "we will look back on 2005, 2006 and 2007 and the number of jobs that grew. Hill is lean and powerful and poised to grow."

The job of selling Hill Air Force Base has been ongoing since the last round of base closures almost a decade ago.

But in making the announcement, the delegation was quick to point out that it was the quality of Utah workers — and their high efficiency scores— that made the difference.

"They've been going through hell not knowing whether they have a job," McCall said. "Everything they do has value. Anytime you see someone in uniform or a civilian going to work on the base, you pat them on the back and say 'thank you' for whatever role they have to play."

In an Air Force ranking of its 154 air bases around the world, Hill ranked 14th best, according to Bennett's office.

"The quality work force, they are the ones that won the day for us," Bishop said.