1. Economic Impact
Long before the Georgia National Guard established its present footprint in Cobb County and
the surrounding communities, the military – active duty, Reserve and a handful or Army and Air
Guard units – was already making a positive impact on the local economy by buying or renting
homes, eating in local restaurants, shopping in local stores, banking at local financial institutions,
and seeking medical care at local health facilities.
Now, with a presence of some 80 entities around the state of Georgia, National Guardsmen
contribute more than one billion dollars annually to the economy of defense communities around
the state.
From military and civilian wages to military construction, goods and services, dollars are
flowing into the local economies from the National Guard. Not only are the 15,000 men and
women of the Guard enhancing the everyday lives of local citizens by protecting the homeland
and supporting war efforts around the world, but they are also helping protect the economic
livelihoods of millions of Georgians.
One of the largest enhancements to the local economic contribution of the Georgia National
Guard came at the end of 2011 when the new Joint Force Headquarters building opened at Clay
National Guard Center. The Georgia Guard then moved another 731 personnel onto Clay,
boosting the organization’s presence in Cobb to nearly 2,000 full-time personnel and traditional
Guardsmen (those who attend drill once a month).
That added to the 2,547 military and civilian personnel who already work at Dobbins Air
Reserve Base just across the flight line.
Much is made – and rightly so – of the support our communities give to their local Guard
units. Indeed, from homecoming parades to local initiatives by community leaders to find our
Guardsmen gainful employment, community support has been outstanding.
It is important – too – for these communities to know what kind of support they receive in
return: not just a ready and relevant force for responding to natural or manmade disasters, but
also a profound economic influencer.
What’s more, the Guard doesn’t just impact the bottom line of these communities, but
Guardsmen are also an important part of the local social fabric, in keeping with the tradition of
our nation’s minutemen.
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