Arkansas is home to a significant military presence, which supports our men and women who defend us at home and abroad. These installations serve missions critical to the national defense. The national security implications of these various installations are somewhat apparent, but they are also huge economic engines for Arkansas.
We must remember these installations as we think about the future of Arkansas’ economic growth.
In late September, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the formation of the Governor’s Military Affairs Committee. (Read more here.)
The core of this committee is made up of members of the communities supporting installations such as the Little Rock Air Force Base, the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Camp Robinson, Camp Pike and the 188th Wing of the Air National Guard in Fort Smith. This statewide initiative is designed to raise awareness of the importance of Arkansas’ military installations and explore ways to help position these installations for increased mission capabilities. This is a smart move and one that all Arkansans should support.
The first order of business for the committee will be determining the statewide economic impact of these bases.
To give you an idea of the potential impact of all Arkansas installations, the LRAFB, in its most recent economic impact study for fiscal year 2014, had an economic impact of more than $800 million — 8,200 airmen and 1,500 civilians are stationed at LRFB, making it Arkansas’s fourth-largest employer. In addition, LRAFB is responsible for 3,479 indirect jobs valued at $146 million. There is no questioning the impact on the central Arkansas economy. Once the Military Affairs Committee completes its statewide study, the impact to Arkansas will be even more apparent.
What will we do with this newly acquired data?
The governor has put together a great team to serve on the committee, and I am excited to see the plan of action to highlight the importance of our military installations here in Arkansas. The committee’s work should be a catalyst to businesses throughout the state to engage in supporting these installations.
One thing that all military communities fear is the next Base Realignment and Closure process. BRAC is the congressionally mandated process to review military installations worldwide and determine mission priorities for the future. Some communities gain mission and grow through the process but others see bases close. Arkansans have seen both positive and negative results from BRAC.
The last BRAC occurred in 2005 and for the most part, Arkansas faired well. That wasn’t the case in 1992 when Eaker Air Force Base outside of Gosnell, Arkansas, closed. Mississippi County saw its unemployment rise by 5 percent the year after the base closed and the local population dropped by more than 5,000. It was a big hit to the communities of Blytheville and Gosnell, and it has taken them years to build back from the base closing.
The Governor’s Military Affairs Committee isn’t solely focused on the next BRAC, but their mission will help position Arkansas installations to fare better when the next BRAC occurs. Some believe the next BRAC could occur as early 2018.
By better understanding the assets we have here in Arkansas and what state and community support could be provided to help them better carry out their missions, we can strengthen these installations value in the eyes of the Pentagon. From schools to infrastructure, there is a lot that Arkansas can do to support our men and women stationed here in Arkansas, and the governor’s committee will hopefully focus our efforts to do that.
Another area where this committee could have a positive impact is highlighting the importance of the defense cluster located in Camden.
Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Spectra Technologies and many other defense contractors have manufacturing operations at the Highland Industrial Park. This cluster is presently in growth mode.
Aerojet recently broke ground on a significant expansion, and Lockheed Martin narrowly missed winning the contract to build the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (LMCO is protesting the results). While the Governor’s Military Affairs Committee is focused on highlighting military installations, it could also be a great vehicle to further highlight the importance of the Highland Industrial complex to both our military installations and Arkansas’s economy.
Hutchinson has taken a big first step in providing the support for our military installations to thrive here in Arkansas. By determining the true economic impact these installations have for Arkansas, we can begin to craft ways for both state and local communities to bolster and strengthen the installations that call Arkansas home. This will help during the next BRAC but will also help these installations through potential mission expansion.
The men and women serving here in Arkansas deserve no less than our best efforts to help them carry out their mission. The Governor’s Military Affairs Committee will help put them front and center, right where they belong. Not to mention, the Arkansas economy will benefit as well.
Photo: The launch of the Governor’s Military Affairs Committee in September.Â