The Columbus Air Force Base generated an economic impact of $315 million in Columbus and the Golden Triangle area in Fiscal Year 2018, according to a report released by the base.
Col. Samantha Weeks, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, presented the report Thursday at a luncheon hosted by the Base Community Council.
Fiscal Year 2018’s economic impact of $315 million represents an increase of 16 percent –around $44 million — up from $271 million in FY 2017, according to the report. Between fiscal years 2014 and 2017, year-to-year growth has ranged from about $9 million to $11 million.
Economic impact consists of base payroll and expenditures, as well as indirect jobs — money spent with local businesses and professionals off the base.
The fiscal year in the report ran from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
Base payroll comprised $158 million of the local economic impact and increased by $12 million in the past year, according to the report. On base, there are 3,302 total assigned personnel, a year-to-year increase of 495, with additional military, civil service and contract hires. Construction contracts were up by $25 million.
Weeks highlighted community support and donations as catalysts to “significant” growth over time.
“That is due to a lot of hard work of the airmen on base and the local community to foster that relationship and figure out what we need to grow,” Weeks said.
The base’s expenditures totaled $116 million of the $315 million impact. The biggest expense — $77 million was spent on contracts, supplies and equipment. Weeks said catering for special events, such as graduations, inductions and the annual awards banquet, will soon be contracted out to businesses in the Columbus community and surrounding areas in the South.
“This is a great opportunity for us to connect with the community, as well as have a good economic impact on our region,” Weeks said.
Indirect generated $41 million in impact.
Weeks elaborated on her past and current priorities, including securing a new maintenance contract, a now finalized leadership program for officers and integrating innovation into education.
An existing maintenance contract with Vertex Aerospace will soon expire, Weeks said, and the new contract will include three option years — basically options for extending the contract — after a base period.
She expects it will be awarded by fall. A new contract is crucial so the base has the capacity to support an expected 100-pilot increase next year, as flight requirements increase.
“Right now we have a fleet of … 233 (aircrafts) on Columbus aerodrome, and we need those to fly,” Weeks said.
The base partners with Capacity7, a resource-branding company in Atlanta, where airmen can attend classes for leadership training and self-awareness.
Now a leadership development course through Air University has been designed for officers in leadership roles and senior non-commissioned officers at the base.
“That’s pretty near and dear to my heart, because a lot of my research from the PhD worked in that, and it truly will become the best leadership course that we have in the entire Air Force,” said Weeks, who just earned a doctorate in military strategy with a focus on leadership.
To incorporate innovation into the classroom, Weeks said new syllabi will focus on virtual reality simulators, which will train students “faster and better” and churn out more pilots.
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