How much economic gain does a military base add to a community?

Question

In other words, what is the average economic gain that a military base brings to a community? I was in the AF for 9 years, and we were always told that we brought in some ridiculous amounts of money. Just wondering if that was all jargon or not because every military base I've ever been to has been located in a real hellhole...or in the middle of nowhere. Thoughts??

I agree with the BRAC list comments...I remember when the DoD closed Fort Dix in NJ. Wrightstown and surrounding areas practically shut down, the only reason they stayed in business was because of Mcguire AFB. Every few years Fort Drum was put on the list and all of upstate NY and Jefferson Co. were screaming to not close the base...err...Fort.

Answer 1

a military base brings LOADS of money into a community through civilian jobs, sales taxes through purchases the individuals stationed there make locally, home sales and rent, sales in general to units on the installation through local acquisitions.

As for the midle of nowhere or arm pit locations, it most likely they kept them away from "prime locations" due to the noise factor coming from the installations. Also the older ones were built as frontier forts and just updated over teh decades. The newer ones were built where they were because that is where the most land could be easilly gotten with minimal problems like houses to condemn, higher prices near the "good cities & towns) etc.

Answer 2

I live near Oceanside CA, home of the largest Marine Corps base in the Western U.S. The Marines are no doubt a huge part of the economy here, though it is far from being a hell hole. There is a lot of tourism and light industry too. Agriculture has been dwindling as a segment of the economy for years.

Some towns started out as almost entirely "military" towns, but have grown beyond that. San Diego Ca, (again, not a hell hole) once had seven active Navy bases and a Marine Corps boot camp. It is not as dependent on the military as it once was.

The only town I know of that is pretty much a "military town" is Ridgecrest CA. It is pretty isolated. As far as being a hell hole, it is in the desert and pretty far from any where else. I have been there, and it's a nice little town.

Lancaster CA is largely dependant on Edwards AFB. There is a lot of economic activity generated by the space shuttle also. All of the vehicles were assembled there, and there still is a lot of support work being done there. Lockheeds Skunk Works, a joint industry/military opperation is lokated there.

I have lived in CA all my life, so I know a lot more about what is out here. I suspect that similar stories can be told about other parts of the country

Answer 3

"every military base I've ever been to has been located in a real hellhole...or in the middle of nowhere"

think about it if a base is located in the middle of nowhere it's probably the only place bringing money into the area. I live in upstate NY where there used to be a huge air force base which pretty much supported the entire economy of the area. In the mid nineties it was shut down and the local economy still hasn't recovered and probably never will.

Answer 4

It would depend on the size of an installation.

Does the food consumed come from local suppliers? All or at least some does.

There will be civilians employed on any installation.

The assigned personnel will spend money off base.

That money then gets spent....and on and on.

While the impact may not be great at Baumholder in the middle of nowhere, it will still be felt by the surrounding area to some degree. How much of the local economy around Travis AFB or Ramstien is dependent on the presence of all those people?

Answer 5

Maybe so, but whenever the DOD announces it wants to close a base, members of congtress from that area are the first to scream how the ecopnomic impact will hurt their state.
I think you're looking at the retail end, but think of what happens when a place like Ft Knox needs to buy a few hundred thousand gallons of milk for the troops. A lot of regional farmers can now make their mortgage payments.

Answer 6

they add alot.. depending on the size of the base... a way you can tell other than adding x number of people to the town ( full time tourist)..is that every base located in a Demon-rat area.. even though most demon-rats hate the military they still fight to keep them open so the money keeps rolling in..

but really say the base has 2000 people.. which would be really really small... that is 2000 people that do not take away from the area tax base.. but when they spend money it adds to the tax base.. take alot at the areas that lose base... they take a big tax hit, and the local gov. always ends up raising taxes to cover the lose

Answer 7

These are all republican talking points - you must watch Foxnews....LOL 1- He will only keep the tax cuts for those making under $250,000; not the entire country 2-I think for a company to make 18 BILLION in one quarter requires additional tax and controls when the average American is suffering don't you 3- His plan for Uni health care requires drug companies to sale the same drugs as affordable prices as they do in other countries without a 150% mark up and does the same for hospital treatment plans - no taxes involved; 4-the first Amnesty was enacted by a Republican - just as it did then now it will provide 12 million more social security contributors - those funds will support our babe boomers who have started to reach retirement age and keep the system solvent; 5-Guantanamo Bay may close but that has nothing to do with releasing detainees. Those are two separate issues 6-He voted for FISA which is a refining of the wire tape laws what you stated is not his position. 7-Iraq wants us out - it is their country and they want a time table for withdrawal - what part of "you are no longer welcome" here don't you understand; I would continue to go down your list but you have gone from slightly misleading to str8 up lying. My GOD man have you no integrity

Answer 8

Depends. In some cases the base is the only reason the local town exists.

Answer 9

I don't know any numbers, but I know how it is here in North Carolina. I know Fayetteville would be NOTHING without the army/airforce and Jacksonville would be NOTHING without the Marines/navy. The towns revolve the bases. The restaurants, banks, stores, etc.. would not be there without them. You can think those places are hellholes, but many people jobs because of the bases.

Answer 10

A military base is not a profit centre. Unless they a charging admission to the public for some reason or another.Maybe renting out thier planes and pilots, air show, ect.. It's a goverment run facility, so its paid for by the people. The ones who make money are the contracters for the goverment, and in return that money is hopefully recycled back into the community.