Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
"The Closing of an Army Base in Appalachia: Considering Economic Impact after Twenty Years."
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
In 1995, the Base Realignment and Closing Commission announced the closing of Fort McClellan. To date, this is the only base closing in Appalachia since the end of the Cold War. This case study considers the economic and subsequent social impacts of its closing. The paper considers use of the land and focuses on the city (Anniston, Alabama) and county (Calhoun) in which Fort McClellan was located.
In addition to economic data provided by the Jacksonville State University Small Business Incubator, United States Census data was used to illustrate economic and demographic changes in the region. To gain a better understanding of the impact of the quantitative data, in-depth interviews with community leaders at the time the Fort was operating and after it closed were conducted. While the case explores the dollars and cents, it seeks to explain how the closing has impacted the region’s socioeconomic status, its racial makeup and other demographic shifts.
Conventional wisdom is that the loss of a military installation will create a negative impact on the community. This case illustrates how the economic impact has been minimal and portions of the region have benefited from the Fort’s demise. Economic development literature also suggests the feared negative economic impact is overestimated. While the findings of the case study support this point, the paper explores other cultural and political impacts on the region.
The case suggests the Fort's closing created economic opportunities for communities and municipalities in the region.
Co-author Paul Hathaway will not present.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Southeast Missouri State University
My teaching and research interests include public policy and state and local governing.
"The Closing of an Army Base in Appalachia: Considering Economic Impact after Twenty Years."
In 1995, the Base Realignment and Closing Commission announced the closing of Fort McClellan. To date, this is the only base closing in Appalachia since the end of the Cold War. This case study considers the economic and subsequent social impacts of its closing. The paper considers use of the land and focuses on the city (Anniston, Alabama) and county (Calhoun) in which Fort McClellan was located.
In addition to economic data provided by the Jacksonville State University Small Business Incubator, United States Census data was used to illustrate economic and demographic changes in the region. To gain a better understanding of the impact of the quantitative data, in-depth interviews with community leaders at the time the Fort was operating and after it closed were conducted. While the case explores the dollars and cents, it seeks to explain how the closing has impacted the region’s socioeconomic status, its racial makeup and other demographic shifts.
Conventional wisdom is that the loss of a military installation will create a negative impact on the community. This case illustrates how the economic impact has been minimal and portions of the region have benefited from the Fort’s demise. Economic development literature also suggests the feared negative economic impact is overestimated. While the findings of the case study support this point, the paper explores other cultural and political impacts on the region.
The case suggests the Fort's closing created economic opportunities for communities and municipalities in the region.
Co-author Paul Hathaway will not present.
