When Will Columbus Overtake Augusta as Georgia's 2nd Largest City? (Atlanta: living, restaurants)

[G-town706]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

Starting in March, soldiers, civilian workers and some family members will begin relocating to Fort Benning. The pace is expected to pick up in May as schools let out and more families with children make their way to the Columbus area.


By mid-September, Fort Benning is projected to have in its ranks as many as 28,000 more troops, civilian staffers (both Department of the Army and contractors) and spouses with children.

It is going to be a big year for Columbus!!!

Thats good for columbus, but Augusta's Ft gordon has always had a troop presence of around or over 30,000.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by G-town706

Thats good for columbus, but Augusta's Ft gordon has always had a troop presence of around or over 30,000.

This is in addition to the current post population. It is like picking up Fort Gordon and adding it to Fort Benning.

[southernbelle1970]

Here are a few statements that clear the air on the BRAC situation locally as posted in local Ledger.
1--There are only 250 more staffers needed to get the training facility up to full strength at about 1,500 workerswhen the dust settles on the massive BRAC expansion at the end of this year,
2--the post’s working population will have swollen from just over 45,000 in mid-2005 to nearly 57,000
3--About 1,500 of the construction workers are expected to go away in 2012 or 2013 as infrastructure is completed on the post.
I think the city once again has been sold another pipe dream but the greed locally is so strong that business owners cannot think logically.

Another Ft Gordon...?
I agree with other posters that the unemployment rate will skyrocket locally with the surge of dependents looking for work locally and will wreck the city tax rates along with a massive crime uptick.The trojan horse is coming Columbus.

[outsideperspective]

Does it really matter what city is the second larges, that doesnt make it second best. Is there some sort of prize for being 2nd.I've never heard anyone being happy being #2. This state has been dominated and will continue to be dominated by 1 I repeat 1 city.

[G-town706]

Originally Posted by outsideperspective

Does it really matter what city is the second larges, that doesnt make it second best. Is there some sort of prize for being 2nd.I've never heard anyone being happy being #2. This state has been dominated and will continue to be dominated by 1 I repeat 1 city.

If your talking about Atlanta than yes but Augusta is growing into its own. I compare Atlanta to L.A. and Augusta as to San francisco or San Diego as far as Georgia is concerned.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by southernbelle1970

Here are a few statements that clear the air on the BRAC situation locally as posted in local Ledger.
1--There are only 250 more staffers needed to get the training facility up to full strength at about 1,500 workerswhen the dust settles on the massive BRAC expansion at the end of this year,
2--the post’s working population will have swollen from just over 45,000 in mid-2005 to nearly 57,000
3--About 1,500 of the construction workers are expected to go away in 2012 or 2013 as infrastructure is completed on the post.
I think the city once again has been sold another pipe dream but the greed locally is so strong that business owners cannot think logically.

Another Ft Gordon...?
I agree with other posters that the unemployment rate will skyrocket locally with the surge of dependents looking for work locally and will wreck the city tax rates along with a massive crime uptick.The trojan horse is coming Columbus.

You forgot some really good info from the article

BEFORE BRAC
$110 million: Monthly salaries generated at Fort Benning (annual total of $1.32 billion)
$250 million: Monthly regional contracts with businesses at post ($3 billion annually)
$4.3 billion: Current total economic impact of post on the area



AFTER BRAC
$35 million: Additional annual contract/salary impact ($420 million per year)
$986.3 million: Increase in annual sales in region
$246.2 million: Increase in annual salaries/income on post
$5.97 billion: Projected total economic impact of post after BRAC expansion ($1.65 billion more than before BRAC)

Fort Benning has estimates that 70% of the new incoming population will live, eat, and shop off post in Columbus. The University of Georgia's Selig Center predicts between 4,000 and 6,000 additional jobs will be created off post to handle the growing demand. According to the local chamber, there will be 4 spinoff jobs created for every 1 new job associated with Fort Benning. Looks like Columbus is in a good place to me!!! Provide all of the facts next time .

[southernbelle1970]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

You forgot some really good info from the article

BEFORE BRAC
$110 million: Monthly salaries generated at Fort Benning (annual total of $1.32 billion)
$250 million: Monthly regional contracts with businesses at post ($3 billion annually)
$4.3 billion: Current total economic impact of post on the area



AFTER BRAC
$35 million: Additional annual contract/salary impact ($420 million per year)
$986.3 million: Increase in annual sales in region
$246.2 million: Increase in annual salaries/income on post
$5.97 billion: Projected total economic impact of post after BRAC expansion ($1.65 billion more than before BRAC)

Fort Benning has estimates that 70% of the new incoming population will live, eat, and shop off post in Columbus. The University of Georgia's Selig Center predicts between 4,000 and 6,000 additional jobs will be created off post to handle the growing demand. According to the local chamber, there will be 4 spinoff jobs created for every 1 new job associated with Fort Benning. Looks like Columbus is in a good place to me!!! Provide all of the facts next time .

These are more estimates of possibilities not facts.Selig has struck out nearly every year but I guess eventually they will screw up and get one right.My question to you is where is the 30k surge when the article only shows an increase of working payrolled folks of only 12k ?We are all waiting............

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by southernbelle1970

These are more estimates of possibilities not facts.Selig has struck out nearly every year but I guess eventually they will screw up and get one right.My question to you is where is the 30k surge when the article only shows an increase of working payrolled folks of only 12k ?We are all waiting............

Feel pretty confident with the economists and chamber on their estimations .

[southernbelle1970]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

Feel pretty confident with the economists and chamber on their estimations .

Where are the 30k?

[Columbus1984]

On their way. Population surge isn't expected to begin until March.