Texas Military Bases Are Boosting Local Economies, According To New Study

Joint Base San Antonio had an economic output of more than $41 billion in 2019 — the highest of any military installation in the state.

By Carson FrameJune 23, 2020 9:53 am, , , ,

From Texas Public Radio:

A new study by the Texas comptroller’s office estimates that military installations contributed at least $123.6 billion to the Texas economy in 2019, and supported more than 630,000 jobs in communities across the state.

Joint Base San Antonio had an economic output of more than $41 billion last year — the highest of any military installation in the state. It also supported over 210,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

The study includes active duty, visiting and other military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors directly affiliated with the base.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said the study was meant to inform local and state-level policy makers.

“Sometimes we forget that those military installations… those are the reasons that homes are built. Those are the reasons that local grocery stores exist — which are additional jobs,” he explained. “So all the different types of peripheral support systems that an economy needs, those things would go away if we didn’t have our installations here in the state of Texas.”

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