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The Economic Impact
of Fort Gordon to the area is significant, making a substantial
contribution to the local economy. Listed below is an example of the
impact the Fort Gordon Military base has on the CSRA.
- Fort Gordon is the CSRA’s
largest employer with over 12,000 military and 5,000 civilian
employees.
- Fort Gordon has an annual
income impact of $1.2B. Income impact includes direct salary
dollars, local procurement, and salaries of jobs created as a result
of direct jobs and procurement.
- Approximately 28% of the
residents of Richmond County that are employed have jobs because of
Fort Gordon, 14% of employed Columbia County residents.
- About 1000 service members
separate from the military at Fort Gordon annually. These are
primarily highly skilled information technology or medical
professionals. Surveys show about 1/3 would like to remain in
Augusta area if the job market was supportive.
- There are 10,600 military
retirees in just the Richmond, Columbia, Edgefield, and Aiken County
area who collectively earn $180M in military retirement pay
annually. The entire Fort Gordon Retirement Services Area includes
30 GA counties and 10 SC counties, within which there are over
18,000 military retirees earning over $295M in military retirement
pay annually.
- There are 83,000 vehicles
registered on Ft Gordon. Automobile dealers say the average person
buys a different vehicle (not necessarily a new vehicle) every 5-6
yrs, thus about 15,000 vehicles are sold annually to people
affiliated with Ft Gordon.
- There was over $24M in health
care purchased from area medical facilities in 2003. This includes
TRICARE in/outpatient care at area civilian facilities, specialty
care/referrals for treatment not available at Eisenhower Army
Medical Center, and contracted care at civilian facilities such as
all obstetric care for military being provided by the Medical
College of Georgia.
- Fort Gordon averages 250,000
hotel nights annually for official government visitors for meetings
and conferences, estimated to be about a $10M impact. What has not
been captured as yet is the impact of corporate and private company
visitors for many of the same meetings and conferences.
- In 2003, the Fort Gordon Blood
Donor Center collected
15,138 units of blood, valued at $3.3
Million. The Fort Gordon Blood Donor Center primarily supports EAMC,
the VA Medical Center and Department of Defense worldwide blood
requirements but there is a partnership agreement with area
facilities for critical needs.
- The Richmond and Columbia
County School Districts collectively receive about $1.35M annually
in impact aid, which is funding provided by the Department of
Education to compensate for federal employees who do not pay
property or GA state taxes because they live in government housing
or are out-of-state residents.
- Fort Gordon is the largest
contributor to the Combined Federal Campaign in CSRA, collecting
over $373,000 in 2003.
- The US Army Signal Corps Band
provides over 400 performances annually in parades, ceremonies,
receptions, schools, nursing homes, museums, funerals, and other
area activities.
- Fort Gordon service members,
civilians and family members volunteer thousands of hours in area
schools, nursing homes, food bank, and other community activities
and events.
- Fort Gordon facilities are used
for community activities such as the Regional Soccer Tournament,
Soap Box Derby, Special Olympics, Motorcycle Safety Course, and
ROTC/JROTC training.
Click here, to read a full
study on The Economic Impact of
Fort Gordon on Columbia and Richmond Counties, Georgia compiled
and presented by Harpal S. Grewal, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the
Division of Business at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC and J.
Christopher Noah, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor of the Division of Business
for Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC, compiled in July 2003. |
