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Growth Of Military Helps Boost Sagging Economy

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Jul 21, 2008 4:51 am US/Mountain

Growth Of Military Helps Boost Sagging Economy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) ―

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The Pikes Peak region is avoiding some of the economic downturn most of the nation is facing because of the military's building program.

The military construction is the biggest in the region since World War II, the Gazette reported.

"Every major construction company that you're aware of is probably working on a job at Fort Carson," said Terry Burns, a planner at the post.

Fort Carson alone will add 12,000 troops by 2013, and they need offices and living quarters. More than $2 billion is being spent at the post.

The post, which went into the Iraq war in 2003 with fewer than 15,000 troops, is expected to have 30,000 soldiers by 2013.

"It's a perfect time for it," said Mike Kazmierski, who heads the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation. "To have active construction at that level is very important to our economy in many ways."

The Air Force also has some renovations under way.

One economist said planners need to be careful and try to diversify the area's economy because Congress could scale back the growth.

"The truth of the matter is, we still need to diversify the economy because the number of troops is at the whim of Congress," said Fred Crowley, an economist who teaches at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Meanwhile, 5,000 of the new troops are scheduled to arrive next year. They are in Iraq serving with the 4th Infantry Division's headquarters and 1st Brigade Combat Team.

"It's unbelievable," said Fort Carson planner Bill Davis. "We're having multiple weekly design meetings." The new division headquarters building is almost finished, and the brigade will have fresh offices, too.