The Catskill Chronicle

NEW YORK STATE (March 8, 2012) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday that New York State has initiated a $500,000 economic impact study to identify growth opportunities and retention strategies to keep state military bases as economic contributors and job generators in New York State.

"New York State’s military bases are a major economic driver for our state, and we must do all we can to keep them here," Governor Cuomo said.

The economic benefits created by New York State’s military installations continue to be threatened by federal budgetary constraints, modernization initiatives, and future rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure program.

To protect New York’s military bases and keep the state’s National Guard strong, the study will focus on the military value, cost effectiveness and economic impact of key New York military installations, including the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. The analysis will help in the creation of a strategic plan to promote, enhance and protect New York’s military bases.

Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy traveled this week to Washington, DC to meet with White House and Defense Department officials, as well as the state’s congressional delegation to discuss Tuesday’s announcement by the Department of Defense regarding reductions at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

State military bases account for more than 10,000 direct jobs with direct wages of $688 million and $1.9 billion of economic impact. New York State’s primary military installations include:

· Niagara Falls Reserve Station
· Fort Drum, Watertown
· Air Force Research Laboratories, Rome
· Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia
· Hancock Field, Air National Guard Base, Syracuse
· Watervliet Arsenal, Albany
· West Point
· Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn
· Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh
· Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton