IN OUR VIEW | RRAD's Big Impact: Study shows why we can't afford to lose our major economic player

The U.S. military is a big player in the economy of most states.

That's particularly true in Texas, where in 2019 the state's 15 military installations and the Austin-based U.S. Army Futures Command were responsible for $126 billion and more than 630,000 jobs across the Lone Star State.

Here in the Twin Cities, we know the impact the military can make. Since World War II, Red River Army Deport has been a key factor in the local economy.

Today, according to study by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, RRAD provides direct employment to 3,887 people and indirect employment to nearly 7,000 more. Those workers bring home about $681 million a year. Much of that money that they spend with local and regional businesses.

In all, RRAD makes a $1.7 billion economic impact on the state and our local area.

That's a lot of money. And it shows why RRAD is so important to our area.

In the past, RRAD has been threatened with closure. Our state and local officials, along with RRAD employees and community leaders, effectively fought that off. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, eventually lawmakers are going to look for places to cut back. And RRAD could find itself in the crosshairs once more.

So we can't be complacent. We, as a community, must always be ready to defend RRAD as best we can. It's just too important to every one of us.

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