Fort Bliss might get 11,000 more troops! (El Paso, West: home, scorpions, school district)

[AngelicBabydoll]

I have yet to hear about a surge in employment for el pasoans unless u work on ft.bliss of course. there is alot of construction on the eastside, with alot of newer homes in horizon. i'm sure with the surge of troops comes more need for shops, restaurants etc. in turn will benefit el paso...not to mention the outlet mall being built off transmountain! can't wait for that!

[Chuco]

Originally Posted by AngelicBabydoll

I have yet to hear about a surge in employment for el pasoans unless u work on ft.bliss of course. there is alot of construction on the eastside, with alot of newer homes in horizon. i'm sure with the surge of troops comes more need for shops, restaurants etc. in turn will benefit el paso...not to mention the outlet mall being built off transmountain! can't wait for that!

I think El Paso is already starting to see a small surge in employment figures, in June it was reported that El Paso's unemployment rate was at a 7 year low. El Paso still has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, but I'm sure as we get more troops in the next 6-7 years, the economy should get better as the troops start living, shopping, eating and so on in the area.

Speaking of the outlet mall, I just caught a glimpse of it the other day and wow, it pretty big! It's really starting to take shape, I think they have all the stores signed up already.

[emjbulls]

Also UTEP is trying to expand. The goal was something like 10k more students a year (I don't remember what the goal date was). They are doing quite a bit of hiring plus the added students will spend money locally too.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Chuco

Speaking of the outlet mall, I just caught a glimpse of it the other day and wow, it pretty big! It's really starting to take shape, I think they have all the stores signed up already.

Chuco.....after those great pictures of the Palm Trees you posted i hope when the new center is done you'll get some pictures of it so we can all see how cool it will be and also stop EP Haters from saying ''Is this what EP looks like'' as they show a picture of a concrete section of the ''Old Freeway on US 54''........

Thanks again !!
Go Utep ! Go Andress High !

[Chuco]

Originally Posted by emjbulls

Also UTEP is trying to expand. The goal was something like 10k more students a year (I don't remember what the goal date was). They are doing quite a bit of hiring plus the added students will spend money locally too.

I think you are right, UTEP is expected to grow to over 25k students in a few years, they are going to expand big time.

Originally Posted by harry o

Chuco.....after those great pictures of the Palm Trees you posted i hope when the new center is done you'll get some pictures of it so we can all see how cool it will be and also stop EP Haters from saying ''Is this what EP looks like'' as they show a picture of a concrete section of the ''Old Freeway on US 54''........

Thanks again !!
Go Utep ! Go Andress High !

I took a picture of it as it is getting built and put it on the outlet mall thread, but after it is done I will post some new ones, so everyone can see it.

Go Miners!!!

[NOTAM]

wrong. i have been a defense contractor before (prior to going DOD/GS) and i had full medical benefits. and it still is the same today-i am planning on working at Ft Hood (i am an ER RN) and the contractors who i have spoken to offer full benefits. oh, and the pay was HIGHER than my pay as DOD/GS. i took a pay cut to go Civil Service!

Originally Posted by lipbalm

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.

[atrabilius]

Originally Posted by Chuco

The El Paso Times is now reporting that the Army wants to send 11,000 more troops to Ft. Bliss on top of the 20,000 new troops that are already coming for sure. The Army is now thinking of bringing in an additional three brigade combat teams to the area, two would go to Ft. Bliss and one would go to White Sands. Ft. Bliss is currently going through a $3.1 billion expansion. According to a study done by UTEP researchers, the total economic impact of the Fort Bliss expansion will be an estimated $21.7 billion over the next seven years, and then an additional $3.7 billion annually for many years after that.

This is all great, but how will our schools hold up with all of this influx of new soldiers? Hopefully that new Inner loop freeway will be built on time for when they all get here, it is going to be badly needed.

El Paso Times - Bliss may get additional 11,000 troops
El Paso Times - Expansion requirements practically creating 2nd Fort Bliss

If they're going to put one-third of those new soldiers at White Sands, build a housing area for them out there, then I think the kids who will live out there and go to public school would be the Las Cruces school district's responsibility. The Las Cruces school district already has an elementary school and middle school out there and they bus the high-school kids to Onate High in Las Cruces. Maybe some of them will end up living in Chaparral or Orogrande (in which case, more growth for the Gadsden and Alamogordo school districts, respectively).

As for the ones going to El Paso, I figure some would end up in the Socorro, Ysleta or Clint school districts. I looked at this table of school enrollments and building capacities the El Paso Times published some time ago, and I think maybe the El Paso school district could cram some more in by redrawing a bunch of attendance zones and reopening Wainwright Elementary (are there any plans at Fort Bliss to build housing areas for families east of Railroad Drive?). I wouldn't be surprised if there was another EPISD bond election in 2010, mostly for new construction or expansion of existing schools and most of that on Fort Bliss or in Northeast. If the school districts get federal and state help it'll be a lot easier.

[Chuco]

Well, I'm not sure if they are going to bring those 11,000 extra troops or not, they haven't decided. The 20,000 that they originally announced will be coming for sure though.

[atrabilius]

Originally Posted by Chuco

Well, I'm not sure if they are going to bring those 11,000 extra troops or not, they haven't decided. The 20,000 that they originally announced will be coming for sure though.

Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out how the schools might handle it. I'm watching to see how they accommodate the ones they say are coming in for sure; 9600 kids is the figure I heard. That's quite a lot.

[Chuco]

Originally Posted by atrabilius

Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out how the schools might handle it. I'm watching to see how they accommodate the ones they say are coming in for sure; 9600 kids is the figure I heard. That's quite a lot.

That will be a lot for sure, if the 11,000 more troops come also then I'm thinking another 5,000 more kids would probably come too.