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May 01
Fort Drum Army base near Watertown generates $1.93 billion for the North Country economy. That's according to the base's annual economic impact statement
That makes it the largest single-site employer in northern New York
The state is trying to keep more of those people in the region after their tour of duty is complete. A $10 million investment in a project called Next Move NY is attempting to build a workforce pipeline for soldiers who are transitioning out of the military
The project opened its first office in downtown Watertown Thursday
Fort Drum is celebrating its 40th anniversary since it converted from Camp Drum and became the home of the 10th Mountain Division
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Soldiers receive instruction on providing support for explosive ordinance teams during a training exercise at Fort Drum
FORT DRUM — Fort Drum continues to be an incredibly strong economic driver in the north country
Advocate Drum and the Development Authority of the North Country released their annual economic impact study showing that for the federal fiscal year ending on Sept
Fort Drum’s total economic impact on the region was $2.55 billion
a slight increase from $2.5 billion from the year prior
That number includes $1.9 billion in direct spending in Jefferson
plus an extra $655 million in additional economic activity
both military and civilian on-post employees
and spending by the Department of Defense with vendors that provide goods and services to Fort Drum
Indirect spending means those business sales
and income supported by Fort Drum’s non-payroll expenditures for sales and supplies
shows that 36.2% of jobs in Jefferson County are related to Fort Drum
Lawrence County’s Fort Drum-related employment is at 1.1%
The total direct economic output in Jefferson County is roughly $2 billion
The rest of the state is around $359 million
School districts in the community also benefited last year as they received $39.1 million in Department of Defense impact aid
“The model we use allows us to capture a clear economic impact of Fort Drum on the three-county region that surrounds the installation
Fort Drum is a vital part of this community
The direct spending of a little over $1.9 billion was in support of nearly 38,000 soldiers
and civilian employees who both live and work on post
which employs a total of 13,480 direct military employees in the area
remains the largest single-site employer in New York
Fort Drum is responsible for 31,624 jobs in the north country
It is unknown how much training soldiers from outside the area contributed to the economy
but the base brought in an additional 14,076 transient and rotational service members to the area
The area most affected is in health and social services
with 1,283 indirect and induced job impact
Educational services had 1,237 impacted jobs and construction had 1,184
Piche said in the news release that the report shows the impact Fort Drum continues to have in the north country
“This report continues to signify the tremendous impact Fort Drum has on our county and the North Country,” he said in the release
“We are a proud military defense community and the home of the 10th Mountain Division
Our commitment to Soldiers and their families will not only ensure Fort Drum remains a viable power projection platform for our nation
but also ensure the future of the regional economy.”
Doyle stated that “Fort Drum continues to be a significant economic driver” throughout the region
Lewis County Legislator Vincent Nortz stated that Fort Drum’s impact on Lewis County and the surrounding area “is undeniable.”
“Fort Drum’s economic impact is a cornerstone in the daily lives of our community,” he said in the news release
The Jefferson County Planning Department helps in maintaining the model and producing each year’s results
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Feb 05
About 500 Fort Drum soldiers are heading to Arizona as part of the Trump administration's efforts to secure the southern border
"The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) will serve as a Joint Task Force headquarters charged with overseeing units from across military services in support of the Southern Border Surge
which is working with the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection
Units from multiple installations across the southern U.S
will report directly to 10th Mountain Division HQ
“The 10th Mountain Division stands ready to deploy our soldiers,” 10th Mountain Division spokesperson Lt
the 10th Mountain Division will deploy ready forces to support the effort to take operational control of the southern border.”
The 500 Fort Drum soldiers join approximately 1,600 other active-duty personnel from the U.S
Army and other services who were deployed earlier this year
About 2,500 service members were already supporting CBP's southern border mission
"Mission accomplishment means 100% operational control of the border," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told media this week
We've seen thousands of active-duty and National Guard troops come to the border with additional assets and systems that allow us to surveil."
According to CBP statistics
illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border reached a record high in December 2023
Former Marcy Corrections Officer pleads guilty to manslaughter in case involving the death of an inmate in December 2024
— Around 500 soldiers stationed at Fort Drum will deploy to the southern border to secure the area
Northern Command Public Affairs announced Wednesday
The 10th Mountain Division will serve as a Joint Task Force headquarters charged with overseeing units from across military services at Fort Huachuca
The US Northern Command Public Affairs said that the unit will operate under the direction of the U.S
which is working with the Department of Homeland Security & Customs and Border Protections
Units from multiple installations across the Joint Force will fall under the 10th Mountain Division Headquarters and report directly to them while physically located in various parts of the south
Northern Command and Joint Task Force North
the 10th Mountain Division will deploy ready forces to support the effort to take operational control of the southern border," said Spokesperson for the 10th Mountain Division Lt
The soldiers will join the around 1,600 active-duty personnel from the US Army and other services who deployed to the southern border earlier in 2025
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It was an emotional homecoming on Fort Drum on Monday
as several hundred soldiers returned home from a nine-month deployment to the Middle East
The flight was the second the day to come home from that deployment
which is the first time that two groups of soldiers have come home on the same day in the brigade’s history
Mar 28
A new office to help soldiers transition into North Country civilian life will open soon in Watertown
That's part of a NYS program called 'Next Move NY.' That program aims to close a regional workplace gap by helping soliders who are transitioning out of the US military into jobs in the North Country
The Watertown Daily Times reports that the Development Authority of the North Country
secured nearly $4 million dollars in state funding for a ‘Next Move NY’ office on the campus of Jefferson Community College
This will mark the first time that ‘transitioning soldier efforts’ are located off the Fort Drum base and in the local community
The program aims to help local businesses recruit and hire soldiers who are leaving the military
The new office is expected to open in Mid-April
and will be staffed by former Fort Drum soldiers and a business liason who has yet to be hired
Image source: North Country Regional Economic Development Council Challenges Competition Proposal
I’m proud to express my support for Fort Drum’s nomination as the site for the Army’s first small modular reactor
Fort Drum is not only a cornerstone of national defense but also a vital partner to the North Country
We are grateful for the steadfast leadership of Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
whose unwavering advocacy for Fort Drum and its soldiers has been instrumental in securing resources and opportunities that strengthen both the installation and our community
independent power source at Fort Drum would not only enhance military readiness but also bring lasting benefits to Watertown and the North Country by boosting energy security and economic stability
and I am pleased to support this critical initiative,” said Mayor Sarah Compo Pierce
“Advocate Drum stands firmly in support of Fort Drum being the initial location for the employment of an SMR as part of the Army’s Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations Plan,” said Executive Director of Advocate Drum Michael McFadden
“Energy independence is absolutely crucial to ensure Fort Drum remains the premier power projection platform for the United States military
and to enhance the combat readiness of the 10th Mountain Division.”
“Fort Drum stands out as an ideal location for an SMR due to the Army's unique ownership of the utilities and infrastructure on the installation
This ownership would simplify the deployment of an SMR
making it far easier compared to other locations where the Army does not control the utilities
Fort Drum has a skilled workforce with significant experience in on-site energy generation
thanks to years of operating its biomass facility
and the extreme temperatures of the North Country would also offer valuable data for the SMR pilot program.”
“Fort Drum also enjoys robust support from its surrounding community to host the small modular reactor
This significant investment in Upstate New York will provide the Northeast’s power projection platform with independent and secure power
and cement Fort Drum’s importance to the modernization efforts of the Army.”
Permalink: https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/10/stefanik-tenney-advocate-for-fort-drum-to-host-small-modular-reactor