Page 45 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2016

The “Biloxi/Keesler Partnership Day” proclamation sits on display during Keesler’s 75th Anniversary Historical Display Unveiling at the Biloxi Visitors Center.
Mississippi Gulf Coast. You have the students out there, then you have the instructors who support the students, then you have the government employees dedicated to supporting the facilities. It’s a phenomenal number,” said Chevis Swetman, president and chairman of the board of The Peoples Bank.
The phenomenal number Swetman refers to is an annual $1.67 billion impact, according to the latest economic impact analysis report released by Keesler.
“The hard facts and numbers are incredible,” said Rachael Seymour, director of the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce. “It means the people who are stationed at Keesler shop in our stores, dine in our restaurants and purchase houses. I also hope they retire here.”
The economic impact analysis reports 11,785 military and civilian employees on the base with an additional impact of 4,100 family members. About 2,683 of these family members attend public schools with most going to Biloxi,
Harrison County, Long Beach and Ocean Springs districts. The annual military payroll tops out at $463 million and civilian payroll is at $193 million.
Among Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, there are around 33,127 retirees with 59,628 dependents. Keesler Medical Center is one of the factors that attracts people to retire in the area.
“We are one of the few installations in the Air Force with a full medical center and we are proud of the team of doctors, medics and administrators who do an incredible job for active duty, guard members and retirees,” Scarborough said.
In addition to the economic impact of the base, hardly a week goes by that personnel from Keesler don’t volunteer in the community. The economic analysis reports 281,596 volunteer hours each year.
“We are very proud to have this military presence and that Keesler is in our community,” Swetman said. “It’s a great partnership.”
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE
AT A GLANCE:
• 11,785 total workforce
• 3,393 daily student load
• 27,985 technical training
graduates
• 5,120 daily outpatient
interactions at 81st
Medical Group
• 5,400 403rd Wing
flying hours
• 340 Airmen deployed
• $2.4 billion physical assets
• $1.67 billion total
economic impact
Note: Figures based on fiscal year 2015 analysis.
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