State lawmakers push for U.S. military command center

Top Georgia officials are making a pitch to get a major U.S. military command center. They says it could bring hundreds of jobs.

Military officials are considering moving U.S. Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, from its current home in Stuttgart,Germany. The command center is in charge of operations in over 50 African countries.

U.S. Defense officials are considering several locations in the United States, including three base sites in Georgia--Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem, and Dobbins Air Force Base. All are in the metro Atlanta area.

Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson made Georgia’s case in a letter to Defense officials this week. They were joined by three U.S. House Representatives and Governor Sonny Perdue.

Lawmakers tout as selling points the runway network of Dobbins in Marietta, and the rail connection from the three base locations to Savannah’s port.

Officials say the joint command center could bring around 1,300 jobs.

State gets $5,000,000 for job training

The state of Georgia received $5 million dollars today to train workers affected by the base closings and realignment.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Three million dollars is earmarked for the Columbus area where Fort Benning will undergo an expansion that is expected to bring 35 thousand people to the area.

$2 million dollars is meant for job training in Athens and Atlanta where Fort Gillem, Fort McPherson and The Navy Supply Corp school are closing. Governor Perdue accepted the check in a ceremony at Fort McPherson today

Overall, Georgia gained troops in the Base Realignment and Closure process. But in Metro Atlanta about 6000 people will have to find new jobs. The closed facilities will be re-developed. Plans in Atlanta include a technology park and housing and a health sciences center in Athens.

Here are experts from the Governor's Press release.

The grant provides funding for regional workforce development projects
tied to military base transitions associated with the federal Base
Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). Specifically, it will fund
two regional initiatives over 36 months:

* Fort Benning: $3 million to develop workforce for industrial
construction; automotive maintenance and aerospace advanced
manufacturing; and information and communication technologies

* Fort Gillem, Fort McPherson, Navy Supply Corps School: $2
million to transition the workforce at these facilities with a focus on
new jobs associated with the life sciences industry cluster

GA Gets $5 Million Workforce Development Grant

The funding will support two Georgia Work Ready regions affected by the Army's multi-year Base Realignment and Closure program (BRAC).

U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao gave the grant to Governor Sonny Perdue, U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R), and U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson(R) in a ceremony in Atlanta.

The funds will assist in planned expansion of Fort Benning and the transitions of Fort Gillem, Fort McPherson and the Navy Supply Corps School, as part of regional workforce development projects.

“Over the years, Georgia has shown its deep commitment to support our military troops and their families,” Perdue said. “This grant will help ensure that Georgia’s bases impacted by the BRAC process continue to be valuable assets for our state.”

• Fort Benning will get $3 million to develop a workforce for industrial construction; automotive maintenance and aerospace advanced manufacturing; and information and communication technologies
• Fort Gillem, Fort McPherson, Navy Supply Corps School will get the remaining $2 million to transition the workforce at these facilities with a focus on new jobs associated with the life sciences industry cluster, according to a statement from the Governor's Office.
  

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the BRAC project, and its effect on the state.

Report Cites Rise in Costs of Moving Bases

The cost of closing two Georgia military bases could cost as much as ten billion dollars more than initially expected, according to federal officials.

In 2005, the U-S Department of Defense estimated that closing Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem would cost about 21 billion dollars.

According to the U-S Government Office of Accountability, that number now looks more like 31 billion dollars - an increase of about 48 percent more.

Plans are to turn Fort McPherson into a scientific research park.

Local officials say the Fort Gillem real estate south of Atlanta in Forest Park will attract strong interest from the private sector and is best-suited for a mixed-use development blending residential and commercial uses.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the military's Base Realignment and Closure Program - BRAC.