Local officials said they will keep the commissary open at the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility in Oakdale until they can build a new one near the former Greater Pittsburgh International Airport terminal.

The commissary, where active service members, their families and veterans can purchase goods at 5 percent above wholesale, was slated to close when the Collier base shuts down next year.

County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said federal procedures for closing bases call for the land to be turned over to the county for redevelopment. Mr. Onorato said that in the county's plan, one aspect will be to keep the commissary running until a new one can be built on Route 60 in Findlay.

"Until that is built, the commissary will be part of our redevelopment plans," he said. "This facility is not closing."

He was joined yesterday at Pittsburgh International Airport by U.S. Reps. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, and Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, where all pledged support for the commissary and post exchange.

"As a congressional delegation we are absolutely committed to keeping the commissary open," Mr. Doyle said.

Mr. Doyle said there are 1,800 members of the military on active duty in the region and 150,000 people who are eligible to shop at the commissary.

Mr. Onorato said the new commissary would be larger than the current 9,000-square-foot facility, a dingy place that has been expanded over the years by knocking through the wall of the warehouse next to the original building.

"It's a dump, but it's 50 years old," said retired Air Force Col. Jerry Kintigh, who leads the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Job Retention and Military Presence.

To accept the land, the county must have a redevelopment plan. Economic Development Director Dennis Davin said he has "no idea" what the plan will be, other than the commissary will be part of it for as long as it takes to build the new one.

Mr. Doyle said keeping the commissary open "is a way to compensate those families who are struggling while their loved ones are fighting for this country."