economic development

The following was extracted from the Comprehensive Regional Growth Plan for the Fort Bragg Region Summary for Policy Makers  dated June 17, 2008 submitted to the BRAC Regional Task Force.  It was developed by TDA, Inc.  For more information on the BRAC Regional Task Force, it’s executive committee, Board of Directors, Staff, projects and other information, visit their website at www.bracrtf.com

Eleven counties were identified by the BRAC Regional Task Force and the Department of Defense as the study area: Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett, Moore, Lee, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Montgomery, Bladen and Sampson.  Seven of these counties – Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett, Moore, Lee, Richmond and Robeson – are expected to receive the most significant growth impacts and have thus been identified as Tier I counties.

The expected growth scenario assumes that 2,651 active-duty soldiers, 2,091 civilian employees with the Army, 3,116 embedded contractors and approximately 1,000 private defense contractors will be added to the communities surrounding Ft. Bragg between the years 2006 and 2013.  An additional 1,675 reservists will also train at Ft. Bragg one weekend each month.  The number of active-duty soldiers and civilian jobs with the Army reflect the net gain in personnel after considering all gains and losses of personnel from both Pope Air Force Base and Ft. Bragg.  In addition, the expected growth scenario includes expected construction expenditures for military projects managed by Picerne Housing.  Military construction expenditures will total $2.24 billion between 2006 and 2013 and privatized military housing construction will total $336 million in the same period.

As of 2013, 40,800 new residents will have moved to the area as a result of the growth at Ft. Bragg.

Active-duty military personnel make up a significant portion of the incoming population.  Because the move involves two Army Commands, the estimated number re-locating higher-income field-grade and general officers is relatively large. Dependants of the incoming soldiers – spouses, children and adult dependants – substantially outnumber the soldiers themselves.  It is expected that there will be 1.64 dependents in every military household.

Due to the U.S. Army Forces Command and the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s relocation to Ft. Bragg, as well as other personnel movements at the Base, there will be a net increase of 2,091 Army civilians by 2013. There will be an estimated two dependents in every Army civilian household.

Over half the Army civilian positions were transferred in 2006 and 2007 and the remaining positions will be relocated in 2008 and 2009.  Nearly 200 positions with Womack Hospital have been transferred to the area; nearly 500 positions – with the JFK Special Warfare Center and School, the 1st Special Warfare Training Group and the 1st ROTC Region – will relocate to the area in 2008 and 2009.

In 2011, relocated jobs will be filled by civilians moving from the Atlanta area, residents of the Ft. Bragg region and others from areas throughout the country.  Many of these Army civilian jobs are high paying and require a bachelor’s degree at a minimum.

Numerous defense contractors have found it beneficial to be near the US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) in the Atlanta area.  In fact, 3,116 embedded private contractors – that is, contractors officed in a military installation – are being located to Ft. Bragg. It is likely that other private firms that work outside Fort McPherson in Atlanta will want to maintain their close proximity to key Army decision-makers and therefore will relocate to the Fort Bragg area along with FORSCOM and USARC.

Although the number of contractors that will establish a presence in the Fort Bragg area cannot be predicted with complete accuracy, the analysis indicates that roughly 1,000 new, private, defense-contractor jobs – in addition to the 3,616 embedded contract jobs mentioned above – will be created in the Fort Bragg region by 2013. Defense contractors – together with their spouses, children and other dependants – are expected to add 12,348 to the total population growth.

The term Economic Migrants refers to people who move to other areas to find employment and other opportunities not available at their present locations.  Approximately 15,181 economic migrants are expected to relocate to the area to take advantage of the opportunities created by the expansion at Fort Bragg.

A total of 19,200 jobs will be created in 2013 as a result of additional military investment in the region.  Of these new jobs, the largest number will be in government employment. In 2011, governmental bodies in the area will have added about 6,450 jobs. Owing to the increased need for housing, the next largest economic impact of the expansion at Fort Bragg will be felt in the construction-related sectors. Region-wide demand for additional construction jobs will peak in 2011 at approximately 6,265.  From 2013 onwards, as the demand for housing and related construction activities decreases, fewer jobs will be required in this sector.  Only 1,860 construction-related jobs will be needed in 2013 and fewer than 1,500 will be needed in 2014 and beyond.  The third biggest job gain is expected to be in the professional and technical services sector.  At the peak of the expansion – that is, in 2012 – the professional and technical services sector should be able to support an additional 3,000 in the region.

Other sectors expected to have significant job growth in the region include health care and social assistance, administrative and waste services and accommodation and food services.  Sectors that should expect lesser employment gains include finance and insurance, arts, entertainment and recreation and wholesale trade.

The housing market in Tier I counties continues to outperform the national and southeastern housing markets.  Housing in the area is substantially more affordable than it is in most parts of the United States and is characterized by a history of price appreciation.  An additional 21,500 owner-occupied homes and 6,900 rental units will be needed in the Tier I region between 2008 and 2013.  The majority of these ownership units will be needed to accommodate the population associated with the military growth at Ft. Bragg; the remainder would have been needed even without the base expansion.

School districts in the seven Tier I counties will experience an increase of 7,100 students between 2006-07 and 2013-14 school years.  Increase will be heaviest in Cumberland, Harnett and Hoke counties.

There are several Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects in various stages of completion (and funding) throughout the Fort Bragg region that has the potential to improve traffic flow.

The increase in solid waste and the additional demand for public water and sewer services resulting from the projected population increase is expected to be relatively minimal.  It is likely these impacts can be handled by existing facilities and practices.

Change is coming to the Fort Bragg region.  Those immediately involved with this change will enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to shape it in ways that enrich their communities, the region and Fort Bragg.