NcDeuce
01-15-2004, 12:54 AM
Economy, diversity, landscape all bolstered by Fort Campbell
Economic impact of Fort Campbell on nearby area $2.1 billion a year
By JIMMY SETTLE
The Leaf-Chronicle
Fort Campbell's influence on the community comes in many forms, some of which can be measured in dollars and cents or by statistical data.
The post has made Montgomery County one of the most diverse in the state.
According to the 2000 Census, about one-fourth of the county's population was nonwhite. Three percent of people in Montgomery County claim two or more racial backgrounds.
Such diversity -- much of which is attributed to the international travels of Fort Campbell soldiers -- has helped the development of minority businesses, churches and other interest groups.
Fort Campbell's presence has also spawned most of the retail and manufacturing sites in Montgomery County. Since the World War II era when then-Camp Campbell was established, Clarksville and surrounding areas have seen retail, contracting and employment opportunities flourish thanks to spending by active-duty soldiers and their dependents, along with military retirees who've decided to stay here.
In some of the more-recent economic data gathered on post, the direct economic impact of Fort Campbell on the surrounding region rises to almost $2.1 billion a year.
That primary figure -- which includes payroll, the value of business contracts from Fort Campbell appropriated funds and additional sources of economic impact -- doesn't take into account the secondary, or indirect spending, which is next to impossible to calculate, but also is substantial.
The region of immediate impact from Fort Campbell primarily encompasses Montgomery and Stewart counties in Tennessee, and Christian and Trigg counties in Kentucky. Fort Campbell occupies 105,000 acres along portions of all four counties. About 75,000 of the acres are on the Tennessee side of the installation.
Spreading out
Post officials have said it's safe to assume that when most troops and dependents leave the main gate at the end of the work day, they turn right and head south into Clarksville -- either to their homes or to spend money at the many stores and restaurants in town.
Many are also leaving through the back gates and going home to less-populated areas like Stewart County, as more land for housing in the immediate metropolitan area is gobbled up.
Despite the impact of wars and conflicts, the overall rate of growth in military-related population has climbed steadily in recent years.
According to figures gathered by Fort Campbell's Installation Resource Management Office, the post now accounts for 24,916 active-duty military personnel plus their dependents, which raises the total to more than 46,000 people.
In normal times, Fort Campbell also employs 2,158 civilian workers. Some of the most recent figures provided show that the post PX employs 585 people; nonappropriated funds facilities, such as bowling lanes and clubs, employ 697; the Fort Campbell schools employ 733; and the post Commissary employs 123.
Some of Fort Campbell's impact is less visible, yet just as important -- like the way troops, their dependents and retired military residents give back to the community.
Deployment's effect
Thus far, the deployment of about 20,000 soldiers from Fort Campbell to Iraq has had a mixed effect on local merchants. While some have seen a drop in business -- including local car dealers who've experienced four straight months of sales that are below last year's performance -- others in retail have seen an increase in what is normally a down time for them, including hotel and motel operators.
The reason? About 5,000 to 6,000 National Guard members and reservists came through Fort Campbell for training and deployment orders. Another 800 guardsmen and reservists have stayed at Fort Campbell to keep it running during the deployment.
A study by the Economic Development Council found that even when soldiers were gone from August 1990 to May 1991 during the first Gulf War, the local economy had some overall growth.
The study, which analyzed sales, employment and income figures, found that even with high unemployment and overall lower per capita wages, retail sales grew 0.5 percent.
Local wages, excluding military-related salaries, grew during the first Gulf War by 4.8 percent, and the number of total business establishments increased by 364 in 1990 and by 178 in 1991.
Officials caution that the study results cannot predict what will happen by the end of this deployment, but they do offer reassurance about the local economy as a whole.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/troops/516451-185388.jpg
Jenny Bressler, a member of the Korean traditional dance troupe HanKuk Dance Academy, performs a fan dance at the Korean-American Association's banquet and New Year's party at Austin Peay State University. A great number of active-duty and retired soldiers have Korean spouses, contributing to the area's diversity.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/troops/516451-185387.jpg
Motorists get clearance to enter the post at Gate 3. Fort Campbell soldiers and their families live on and off post, and their presence has a big effect on Montgomery County's economy.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Direct economic impact of Fort Campbell -- almost $2.1 billion annually
Active-duty military personnel -- 24,916
Active-duty combined with dependents -- 46,177 people
Normal civilian payroll -- 2,158 workers
Source: Installation Resource Management Office
and 2000 Census
Old article that I just discovered... p-)
Economic impact of Fort Campbell on nearby area $2.1 billion a year
By JIMMY SETTLE
The Leaf-Chronicle
Fort Campbell's influence on the community comes in many forms, some of which can be measured in dollars and cents or by statistical data.
The post has made Montgomery County one of the most diverse in the state.
According to the 2000 Census, about one-fourth of the county's population was nonwhite. Three percent of people in Montgomery County claim two or more racial backgrounds.
Such diversity -- much of which is attributed to the international travels of Fort Campbell soldiers -- has helped the development of minority businesses, churches and other interest groups.
Fort Campbell's presence has also spawned most of the retail and manufacturing sites in Montgomery County. Since the World War II era when then-Camp Campbell was established, Clarksville and surrounding areas have seen retail, contracting and employment opportunities flourish thanks to spending by active-duty soldiers and their dependents, along with military retirees who've decided to stay here.
In some of the more-recent economic data gathered on post, the direct economic impact of Fort Campbell on the surrounding region rises to almost $2.1 billion a year.
That primary figure -- which includes payroll, the value of business contracts from Fort Campbell appropriated funds and additional sources of economic impact -- doesn't take into account the secondary, or indirect spending, which is next to impossible to calculate, but also is substantial.
The region of immediate impact from Fort Campbell primarily encompasses Montgomery and Stewart counties in Tennessee, and Christian and Trigg counties in Kentucky. Fort Campbell occupies 105,000 acres along portions of all four counties. About 75,000 of the acres are on the Tennessee side of the installation.
Spreading out
Post officials have said it's safe to assume that when most troops and dependents leave the main gate at the end of the work day, they turn right and head south into Clarksville -- either to their homes or to spend money at the many stores and restaurants in town.
Many are also leaving through the back gates and going home to less-populated areas like Stewart County, as more land for housing in the immediate metropolitan area is gobbled up.
Despite the impact of wars and conflicts, the overall rate of growth in military-related population has climbed steadily in recent years.
According to figures gathered by Fort Campbell's Installation Resource Management Office, the post now accounts for 24,916 active-duty military personnel plus their dependents, which raises the total to more than 46,000 people.
In normal times, Fort Campbell also employs 2,158 civilian workers. Some of the most recent figures provided show that the post PX employs 585 people; nonappropriated funds facilities, such as bowling lanes and clubs, employ 697; the Fort Campbell schools employ 733; and the post Commissary employs 123.
Some of Fort Campbell's impact is less visible, yet just as important -- like the way troops, their dependents and retired military residents give back to the community.
Deployment's effect
Thus far, the deployment of about 20,000 soldiers from Fort Campbell to Iraq has had a mixed effect on local merchants. While some have seen a drop in business -- including local car dealers who've experienced four straight months of sales that are below last year's performance -- others in retail have seen an increase in what is normally a down time for them, including hotel and motel operators.
The reason? About 5,000 to 6,000 National Guard members and reservists came through Fort Campbell for training and deployment orders. Another 800 guardsmen and reservists have stayed at Fort Campbell to keep it running during the deployment.
A study by the Economic Development Council found that even when soldiers were gone from August 1990 to May 1991 during the first Gulf War, the local economy had some overall growth.
The study, which analyzed sales, employment and income figures, found that even with high unemployment and overall lower per capita wages, retail sales grew 0.5 percent.
Local wages, excluding military-related salaries, grew during the first Gulf War by 4.8 percent, and the number of total business establishments increased by 364 in 1990 and by 178 in 1991.
Officials caution that the study results cannot predict what will happen by the end of this deployment, but they do offer reassurance about the local economy as a whole.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/troops/516451-185388.jpg
Jenny Bressler, a member of the Korean traditional dance troupe HanKuk Dance Academy, performs a fan dance at the Korean-American Association's banquet and New Year's party at Austin Peay State University. A great number of active-duty and retired soldiers have Korean spouses, contributing to the area's diversity.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/news/troops/516451-185387.jpg
Motorists get clearance to enter the post at Gate 3. Fort Campbell soldiers and their families live on and off post, and their presence has a big effect on Montgomery County's economy.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Direct economic impact of Fort Campbell -- almost $2.1 billion annually
Active-duty military personnel -- 24,916
Active-duty combined with dependents -- 46,177 people
Normal civilian payroll -- 2,158 workers
Source: Installation Resource Management Office
and 2000 Census
Old article that I just discovered... p-)