CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The Wyoming National Guard does more than protect Wyoming residents – its more than 2,500 members residing in Wyoming contribute more than $643 million to the state.
A recent economic study by Wyoming’s Department of Administration & Information’s Economic Analysis Division, commissioned by the Wyoming Military Department, showed that for federal fiscal year 2013, or October 2012 – September 2013, Wyoming Military Department employees contributed anywhere from $82,000 to $480 million in value added gross domestic product in each of the state’s 23 counties.
“The study proved the Wyoming Military Department is a vital part of Wyoming’s economy,” said Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner, Wyoming’s adjutant general. “Our employees live here, work here, and spend their money here. We wanted to have solid data showing just how much that means to the state.”
The study incorporated payroll and employment data for the Wyoming Military Department’s full time force of soldiers, airmen, federal workers and state employees, as well as the payroll for the traditional military force who typically work only one weekend a month and two weeks per year.
The Economic Analysis Division used a Regional Economic Models Inc. Policy Insight model to measure the economic impacts that Wyoming’s National Guard has on the state’s economy, said Jim Robinson, an economist with the division, who worked on the study along with Wenlin Liu, another division economist.
The REMI model used the Wyoming Military Department’s data and standardized economic estimates for civilian employment, spousal employment, property and sales taxes in each county.
Robinson said the study highlights the fact there is more to the Guard’s presence in the state than wages for guard employees. “As an economist, I’m interested in seeing the impact on jobs, personal income, and GDP. This study reveals that the guard’s economic footprint is significant and reaches all four corners of the state,” he said.
Capt. Rusty Ridley, the Wyoming Military Department’s joint finance officer, gathered the various data for the study.
“We had the ability to provide solid figures to A&I because we track everyone’s home of record,” he said. “For example, I work in Cheyenne but live in Laramie so my paycheck is included as part of the $26 million in value we contribute to Albany County. I believe that increases the validity of our contribution to Wyoming.”
Albany County is among the top five counties with the highest value added GDP figures. All five of those counties include a Wyoming National Guard armory and large group of residents employed by the agency, both factors in how much value is added to a county.
Laramie County, home to the Wyoming Military Department’s headquarters, the only Wyoming Air National Guard wing, and a number of Wyoming Army National Guard units, is the county that benefits the most economically, providing $480 million in value added GDP.
Platte County, home to the department’s Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center; Goshen County; and Natrona County round out the top five.
Even the seven counties without a full-time National Guard presence benefit. Five soldiers and two airmen call Hot Springs County home. They contribute $82,000 to that county, the smallest figure for the counties without a full-time contingent.
Robinson said the information the Wyoming Military Department gave the division for the study provided an excellent starting point.
“The National Guard study was a great application of the REMI model,” he said. “Quite often on REMI projects one has to estimate the inputs that are needed to start the analysis but the National Guard was able to provide historical records of wages and jobs, down to the county level. The quality of the data at the beginning of the study made me feel more confident about the REMI results.”
Although there are more than 3,000 employees in the Wyoming Military Department, roughly 630 live in other states – most of whom are traditional Guard members – and were not included in the study.
“We were looking solely at our benefit internal to the state’s borders,” Reiner said. “I am very pleased to have the benefits our Wyoming Guard gives to Wyoming visible to all. Everyone knows how we contribute during floods and other emergencies, but it’s important to remember we contribute to Wyoming every day of the year.”
| Date Taken: | 10.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.30.2014 16:47 |
| Story ID: | 146614 |
| Location: | CHEYENNE, WY, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Guard contributes more than $640 million to Wyoming, by Deidre Forster, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT