Great Lakes Naval Base boost Illinois economy
The Great Lakes Naval Station is a big contributor to the economy in Illinois, a new study as found.
The military and defense industry provides 150,000 jobs and $13.3 billion in economic activity to Illinois and the largest impact comes from Naval Station Great Lakes north of Chicago, Scott Air Force Base near Belleville and the Rock Island Arsenal in the Quad Cities. The three bases support 85,000 jobs and contribute $9.1 million to the Illinois economy, according to the study.
The statewide economic impact study was conducted by Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon's office and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
However, official military statistics show the arsenal has lost more than 1,000 jobs over the last two years. The job reduction shows cutbacks in defense spending, prompted by the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have had a deep economic impact, the Rock Island Argus (http://bit.ly/1qJ7KHw ) reported. The total workforce at Rock Island Arsenal once reached 9,000 during the height of the two wars.
The loss of 1,083 jobs wasn't the result of layoffs but positions that haven't been refilled after short-term contracts ended or employees decided to retire or leave. Mary DeSmet, vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 15 at the arsenal, said the drop in employment was caused by a reduced workload.
State and federal lawmakers have tried to protect the arsenal from cutbacks because it has such a significant impact on the Quad Cities economy. The facility added an estimated $1.25 billion to the economic output of the Quad Cities region in 2013, and spending on the base supported more than 12,000 jobs.
Although the future of the Rock Island Arsenal remains unclear, $110 million in federal funding has been awarded to the facility for the 2014-2015 fiscal year to help keep its work rates competitive.
The report released Thursday is meant to show the importance of defense spending in Illinois, which could be further diminished if Congress decides to realign or close military bases in the next two years, according to Lt. Gov. Simon.
"We know that military installations are huge economic engines in their respective communities, but this study shows us exactly how crucial they are to our state's economy as a whole," Simon said in a news release. "I encourage all stakeholders to use this data as a foundation for efforts to preserve, promote and enhance our military assets going forward. Tens of thousands of jobs, billions in spending and our nation's security are at stake."
Military and defense spending supports 150,000 jobs and $13.3 billion in economic activity in Illinois, according to the report.
"This study is a first step toward educating Illinoisans about the importance of our military assets," Simon said. "We want all stakeholders to understand what we have, what we have to lose and what there is to gain."