Westover adds millions to local economy

  • Published
  • By 439 AW Public Affairs
  • 439 Airlift Wing
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  The 439th Airlift Wing here, poured more than $231 million into the community, an increase of $36 million over last year's figures.

This marks one of the largest economic impact increases in recent years. Officials here attribute a large portion of the increase to Air Force funding for minor construction and upkeep of the 69-year-old base (including ramp, runway, and road repairs).

"Of that $36 million increase, $23 million more went to base construction," said Dan McCarthy, a Westover cost and management analyst. Funding for the remaining $13 million increase went to such areas as increased payrolls and services.

McCarthy added that Westover's economic boost from last year does not include two high-profile construction projects. Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) funds provided $7 million for the new Seabees building, and $30 million for the Army Reserve Center.

Westover's financial impact in fiscal 2008 was $195 million.

The wing impacted communities within a 50-mile radius with $231,839,104, from Oct. 1, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009. During the previous year, the base impact was $195,073,172. The 439th AW employs about 3,213 people, including 2,461 Air Force reservists. There are also 731 federal employees and 113 non-appropriated fund employees who work in such areas as the base exchange, bowling alley, shoppette-gas station, outdoor recreation, lodging, and the Westover Club. In addition, there are 125 contract civilians working on the base employed by Phoenix Management (the main contractor for the base), Lockheed-Martin, UKPIK, Flight Safety Services, and Omega Travel.

The total payroll for the base during the period was $125,732,368. Military salaries totaled $63,449,832 while civil service personnel accounted for $58,287,198 and non-appropriated fund civilians and private businesses made an additional $3,995,338. Another $32,173,759 (up from $8,490,135 in fiscal 2008) was spent on construction, while service contracts contributed $19,742,174 while $7,728,288 went to other expenditures including temporary duty for military personnel.

Using a government formula, the base indirectly created 1,067 jobs in the area, resulting in another $46,462,515. Physically, Westover's 2,500 acres make it the largest Air Force Reserve base in the country. It is the closest fully operational base to Europe.

In addition to housing the 439th Airlift Wing, the base is also home to several tenant units including Marine Air Support Squadron Six; Marine Machine Gun Platoon; 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Reserve Training Center; the United States Army Corps of Engineers; the United States Armed Forces Reserve Training Center; Army Air Force Exchange Service; a Reserve Readiness and Mobility Squadron, Marines Machine Gun/Anti-Terrorism Platoon; the 226th Transportation Company (U.S. Army Reserve); the Springfield Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS); a Defense Contract Management Administration office and Naval Construction Battalion #27, US Navy Reserve.

The economic impact of these units was not used in calculating the totals shown in this article.