STUDY: Fort Bliss contributes $24 billion to Texas economy

As part of the “Good for Texas Tour: Military Edition”, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar visited Fort Bliss Wednesday, to release the results of a study the Comptroller’s office recently completed examining the economic impact of Fort Bliss.

Glen Hegar said, “Texas has long been committed to our military bases and the personnel who call the Lone Star State home. That’s why we’re often recognized for our military friendliness.”

Hegar added, “From training troops and maintaining military equipment to caring for our wounded and overseeing defense contracts, our installations provide both economic and intangible benefits. As the state’s chief financial officer, I appreciate the military’s contribution to our economy: $136.4 billion in total output and a contribution of $81.3 billion to gross domestic product.”

“Our military installations employ 804,268 Texans in some capacity, contributing nearly $48 billion of disposable personal income for our citizens. But as with other sectors of the Texas economy, our bases can experience change and uncertainty. By detailing the economic impact of our 15 military installations, we hope to emphasize their importance to strong, diverse and growing regional economies.”

Here are some snapshots of the study.

– Estimated contributions of Fort Bliss to Texas economy, 2015 according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:

Direct Employment – 40,844
Direct and Indirect employment – 135,610
Output – $24.1 Billion
Gross Domestic Product – $14.2 Billion

– According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss is the single largest employer in the region, creating an estimated annual disposable personal income of approximately $8.2 billion.

– Fort Bliss serves and supports all branches of the military. It is a major mounted maneuver training post and, in 2011, became home to the First Armored Division known as “Old Ironsides.”

– Fort Bliss’ Army Forces Command has: three brigade combat teams; combat support hospital, military police, training, network operations, reserve training and mobilization.

– According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Bliss is the U.S.’ second-largest military installation geographically, with 1.12 million acres in Texas and New Mexico. It would encompass Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin.

– Fort Bliss covers more ground than the state of Rhode Island.

– Approximately one out of every five people in El Paso County is associated with Ft. Bliss. They are employees (military and civilian, retirees or family members), according to Fort Bliss and the U.S. Census Bureau.

– According to Economic Modeling Specialists Intl., here are the average Federal government wages in 2014:

$62, 373 – Upper Rio Grande Region
$51,842 – Texas
$48,104 – U.S.

– Regional average federal government wages are 24% higher than the state average.

– Fort Bliss has partnered with the city of El Paso to desalinate brackish groundwater from the Hueco Bolson Aquifer.

– Upper Rio Grande military employment more than doubled from 2004 – 2014, up by 17,158 jobs or 141%.

– Fort Bliss states it is considered the Army’s flagship for home station training in these areas: close combat tactics; engagement skills; aviation combined arm tactics; simulations; mission training; medical support; digital ranges.

– Fort Bliss was established in 1848 to defend the new U.S. Border and is named in memory of Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss, Gen. Zachary Taylor’s chief of staff during the Mexican War.

Glen Hegar said in conclusion, Fort Bliss “is considered the Army’s flagship for home station training and an installation of highest military value. A significant employer in El Paso County, Fort Bliss is without question a major economic driver for the Upper Rio Grande Region. It directly contributes to the livelihood of at least one in five people in El Paso, and helps define the culture and ethos of the region.”

He goes on to say, “its impact isn’t limited to far west Texas. With its size and prominence, Fort Bliss is a boon to the state contributing at least $24.1 billion to the Texas economy.”

For more information, Texasahead.org/economic-data/military