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Study: Midstate military bases valuable to state economy, nation’s defense

Letterkenny Army Depot.jpg

The Patriot missile launcher is displayed at the entrance of Letterkenny Army Depot. (Public Opinion file)

(Harrisburg) — A state commission is making the case that Pennsylvania’s military installations are an economic boon to the commonwealth’s economy, as well as valuable to the nation’s defense.

A study ordered by the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission found the commonwealth’s bases generate $11 billion annually in economic impact. That’s calculated by looking at business operations of the bases, as well as employees’ salaries and the impact they have when they go out and buy food, clothing, and houses.

Researchers said the workforce is primarily made up of civilians employed in highly skilled jobs such as manufacturing and telecommunications.

Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County has the second largest impact in the state at $2 billion. The six installations in the midstate total about $5 billion.

But it’s more than just money.

Commission executive director Frank Sullivan said Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg and the Defense Distribution Center in New Cumberland have full time fire departments and EMTs that have cooperative agreements with surrounding communities.

“So, when anything happens in those areas, it’s generally the military units from those installations that are first on the scene,” Sullivan said.”

The study was commissioned to show the value of the state’s installations as a guard against any future Department of Defense base closures.

“We have to be prepared to showcase the value of these installations and the value of Pennsylvania workers in what we bring to the fight for our nation’s defense,” Sullivan said.

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This table from a study ordered by the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission shows the commonwealth’s military bases generate $11 billion annually in economic impact.

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