New brigade brings economic benefit

Posted on Sat, Jul. 24, 2004

Posted on Sat, Jul. 24, 2004 BY TONY ADAMS
Staff Writer

From boots and burgers to homes and automobiles, the 3,800 soldiers and accompanying family members destined for Columbus are expected to have a profound effect on the economy.

"You're looking at, yes, the equivalent of a gigantic corporation landing in your community when you think about how many people are going to be moving here," Mike Gaymon, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce president, said Friday when hearing the news that the Army will be forming a new brigade at Fort Benning.

"It doesn't take long to figure millions of dollars in economic impact," Gaymon said.

That also doesn't take into account the civilian support jobs that will be needed at Fort Benning to support the brigade, said Rich McDowell, Fort Benning spokesman.

McDowell said Fort Benning could start seeing its first soldiers before October 2006. When they do arrive, expect a number of them to begin shopping for homes, buying automobiles, eating in restaurants, shopping -- spending their hard-earned dollars throughout the community.

Kevin Lonchar, customer relations and military liaison director at Bill Heard Chevrolet, said "typically whenever soldiers are transferring from one duty station to the next, they feel like it's time to update their vehicle."

Danny Amberson, broker-owner of REMAX Prime Realty in Phenix City, figures about 80 percent of his home-shopping clientele is active-duty military. He said an influx of young soldiers with families could put a squeeze on the local housing market, particularly in the first-time buyer category.

"We've got a good supply now," said Amberson, retired military himself. "But these guys are going to come in and that good supply could turn into a dwindling supply."

More military spouses could be a boost for the service industry, however. Barry Merrell, owner of the B. Merrell's restaurants in town, said the invasion of troops should help boost sales. But they also may improve service at eateries.

"A lot of those servicemen's girlfriends and wives have worked in full-service restaurants and they're usually very good," he said.

Of course, Paul Voorhees' Ranger Joe's military supply store on Victory Drive is a natural draw for any soldier. But he stressed the critical importance of the military to the entire community.

"Those are our kind of customers," he said. "It's wonderful news. If Fort Benning disappeared, half the banks in Columbus would close up. Half the school teachers would be out of work. We wouldn't need but about 20 percent of the insurance people. You would see these big corporate people just closing up."

Staff writer Angelique Soenarie and the Department of Army contributed to this report.

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