Ft. Lewis, one of the Army's most popular installations, expands troop strength and updates facilities.

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Comments due by February 18, 2010 for Non-Project SEPA Scoping Notice, JBLM Growth Coordination Plan (doc 57 kB) (pdf 27 kB)

Since 2003, Ft. Lewis has experienced significant growth, both in total number of personnel and new buildings. In federal fiscal year 2003, Ft. Lewis had 19,476 soldiers and another 8,247 federal employees. By 2009, 11,324 additional soldiers and 9,819 federal employees and contractors were stationed at Ft. Lewis. Department of Defense forecasts project that by 2015, Ft. Lewis will have 32,283 active duty soldiers and 10,153 contractors and employees.

Additionally, the Department of the Army is conducting an Environmental Impact Study for options that could increase the active-duty population by about 5,500 soldiers and 110 helicopters.

If approved, the total installation size would be 40,200 soldiers and 11,800 civilians, more than double the size from the previous decade.

When combined into Joint Base Lewis-McChord on January 31, 2010, the base will be the largest military installation on the west coast of the United States with more than 415,000 acres, including Yakima Training Center in central Washington. It will support a population, on-base and in neighboring communities, of more than 125,000 people including military personnel, families, civilian and contract employees, and retirees and their families.

This growth will present immense opportunities and challenges to Ft. Lewis, McChord AFB and the communities in the surrounding region.

Military economic impact to the area

The military creates a stable source of employment and tax revenue for the local economies. In a 2004 report the Washington State Office of Financial Management found that Ft. Lewis and McChord AFB directly and indirectly account for over 74,000 jobs in Pierce County and over 87,000 statewide. The total impacts in terms of labor earnings sum to nearly $2.9 billion within Pierce County (about 30 percent of the county total wage disbursements) and nearly $3.4 billion statewide.

Direct Impacts of Major Military Bases in Pierce County, 2003

Employment, uniformed and civilian	34,624
Payroll	$1.876 billion
Military retiree pensions	$524.9 million
TriCare payments to private providers	$31.1 million
Contracts for goods and services
Pierce County vendors	$25.2 million
Statewide	$52.1 million
On-base retail spending	$200.9 million
Net direct impact*	$2.2312 billion
* Reduced by on-base retail spending

The above table does not include the almost $3 billion on base construction through "Milcon" Military Construction funds slated for Ft. Lewis or the $11 million received annually to school districts in Pierce County in impact aid for schooling of the dependents of military personnel.