Fort Bliss might get 11,000 more troops! (El Paso, Socorro: 2010, homes, employment)

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by clashman

I don't think the Ft. Bliss expansion is a big benefit to the average El Pasoan. Unless you are a business owner than you will benefit. It only means more taxes to pass on the working class. Of course anyone with a contract to help expand Ft. Bliss will disagree.

I haven't seen any numbers on the amount of civilian jobs it's going to generate. Anyone know?

Slim to none. My buddy is a project manager at Ft. Bliss he says that the majority of the new jobs will go to contract workers, which of course means "NO BENEFITS, and LOW PAY". The few remaining civilian jobs at the base will more then likely be taken up by veterans, or military spouses.

Like you said unless you are a big shot buissiness owner that has a contract awarded by the military, then you will not see squat. Do you think these owners will share the windfall with their employees? Not.

My friend says that you will not believe the how frequently "shady deals" are made in order to secure that lucrative government contract. Just look at the news about the EP county government.

[Chuco]

According to the studies done by the U.S. Army, El Paso is bound to gain 9,000 civilian jobs.. created by the influx of the new soldiers to Ft. Bliss. If we end up getting 11,000 more troops then even more jobs will be created.

[holmes]

I'm not sure how much of an economic impact the expansion will have on the average citizen in el paso, but I'm sure there will be some amount of a "trickle-down" effect. Now if it actually does spur significant job growth, then I'd think the accomodations to infrastructure and schools the city's invested in will be worth it long term.

[6 FOOT 3]

Of course not everyone will benefit by Bliss expansion but still good to see it happen and give the area a newer look/feel to it and also more sales tax revenue will be generated for city services etc.... If i'm correct i beleive Kirtland AFB here in Albuquerque employs around 25,000 civilians and military which is huge. You don't here anybody up here saying to downsize or close the base because only a few will get contracts etc..I read in the newspaper (jacksonville) my former Naval Station Mayport NS in Jacksonville, Fla that the community is very upset that they are losing an aircradt carrier (USS Kennedy) to decommisioning (6,500 sailors) and not being replaced so it does matter to communities to KEEP and Expand their military facilities. So i say keep Growing Bliss !!

[EnjoyEP]

Viva Ciudad El Paso!!!

[Chuco]

More troops to El Paso = more jobs to the area, pretty simple.
That is the main reason why every base in the country fights to stay alive when the BRAC comes along every few years..and most try get additional troops, because it means more jobs for their communities. I don't know of one military base that tries to get itself closed down or a community that jumps for joy when their base gets closed or downsized..its quite the opposite actually.

I just saw a new report on Ft. Bliss and the additional troops coming to the base, and it stated that due to the influx, we can expect 40,000 new jobs by the year 2013. If we get 11,000 more troops on top of that..then we can easily expect over 60,000 new jobs by 2013.

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Chuco

More troops to El Paso = more jobs to the area, pretty simple.
That is the main reason why every base in the country fights to stay alive when the BRAC comes along every few years..and most try get additional troops, because it means more jobs for their communities. I don't know of one military base that tries to get itself closed down or a community that jumps for joy when their base gets closed or downsized..its quite the opposite actually.

I just saw a new report on Ft. Bliss and the additional troops coming to the base, and it stated that due to the influx, we can expect 40,000 new jobs by the year 2013. If we get 11,000 more troops on top of that..then we can easily expect over 60,000 new jobs by 2013.

Yes, but will these be quality jobs with full benefits that pay a decent wage or more of the same low skill, low pay, service industry (cook, waiter, fastfood, retail, etc.) dead end jobs that are too common in EP. That remains to be seen.

[clashman]

I agree lipbalm. Enough of the call centers and retail jobs. We need jobs that require a degree and pay more than $10.00 an hour.

I disagree Chuco. Jobs are not the main reason people fight against a base being closed. In the grand scheme of things there is much more at stake than jobs at the PX. Lobbyist fight for bases because big businesses have much more to lose than you and me. My hope is that the jobs that are created at Bliss benefit you and me.

Don't get me wrong, I am ex military myself and support the base 100%. I just don't think it really benefits the average citizen of El Paso based on what I have seen in my military and civilian career.

[Chuco]

Originally Posted by lipbalm

Yes, but will these be quality jobs with full benefits that pay a decent wage or more of the same low skill, low pay, service industry (cook, waiter, fastfood, retail, etc.) dead end jobs that are too common in EP. That remains to be seen.

Originally Posted by clashman

I agree lipbalm. Enough of the call centers and retail jobs. We need jobs that require a degree and pay more than $10.00 an hour.

I disagree Chuco. Jobs are not the main reason people fight against a base being closed. In the grand scheme of things there is much more at stake than jobs at the PX. Lobbyist fight for bases because big businesses have much more to lose than you and me. My hope is that the jobs that are created at Bliss benefit you and me.

Don't get me wrong, I am ex military myself and support the base 100%. I just don't think it really benefits the average citizen of El Paso based on what I have seen in my military and civilian career.

I'll just wait and see what we get, I am sure most of the jobs wont be the highest paying jobs out there...but with El Paso having one of the highest unemployment rates in the state..we should take whatever we can get at the moment. I have heard that several thousand of these jobs will be well paying jobs..so I'm not worried about the jobs we will get at all..I'm sure all those 40,000+ new workers won't be all that upset either..since it will help put food on their tables and clothes on their children.

[Chuco]

Originally Posted by clashman

I disagree Chuco. Jobs are not the main reason people fight against a base being closed. In the grand scheme of things there is much more at stake than jobs at the PX. Lobbyist fight for bases because big businesses have much more to lose than you and me. My hope is that the jobs that are created at Bliss benefit you and me.

Don't get me wrong, I am ex military myself and support the base 100%. I just don't think it really benefits the average citizen of El Paso based on what I have seen in my military and civilian career.

Clashman, it has nothing to do with jobs at the PX, that is not what I am talking about. Sure these bases make tons of money for these big businesses..but who are the companies that employ thousands of people? Big businesses..
Without those "big businesses" around.. thousands of people are out of work. It is pretty simple: the more troops you have, the more business is created in the area..the more jobs are made.
Troops have expendable money and waste it as they please. 20,000-30,000 new troops = 20,000-30,000 (60,000-75,000 including family members) new customers for companies all over the area.

Bases all over the country fight to stay alive and to be able to expand, because they can make more money for their area, plain and simple. If the base loses troops or closes, then an area can be devastated because of that sole reason. Look at Clovis, NM, their Cannon AF base was about to be closed, and put thousands of people out of work, but with some political moves and people fighting for it to stay alive..it has stayed alive, those thousands of people that relied on Cannon being there can keep their jobs.

It works the other way around too, add more troops to an area..then you add more jobs to the area too. After all, they pay our troopers for their service, don't they? Guess where almost all of them will be spending their money once they arrive at Ft. Bliss...thats right, Ft. Bliss and El Paso, hence creating more jobs for El Paso.
40,000+ new jobs coming to the area in the next 6 years, El Paso: 5.4% unemployment rate, we should take it any way we can get it.