BRAC Growth in Ft. Mitchell

By: | WRBL News 3
Published: July 13, 2009

Thousands are expected to flock to the area as BRAC, or Base Realignment and Closure, hits a high point in 2011. The military move will bring the Army’s Armor School from Fort Knox to Fort Benning, and it will bring with it an estimated 30,000.

It's already injecting numbers into small communities around the post. News 3 hit the road in Fort Mitchell, Alabama to see what this pocket community is doing to break out.

It's the land of opportunity for some families.

Tanya Hudson moved in to a Fort Mitchell neighborhood a year ago with her husband who's been in the army for 14 years, “We had been looking at several places over in the Columbus area, but what we decided was to move closer to Fort Benning, and when we came out here to visit the Villages at Westgate, they were focusing more on the military family.”

A focus that fits Hudson's lifestyle and her wallet, “You get more house for your money.”

It's a peaceful community that the Columbus Chamber of Commerce says will take on some of Russell County's 5,600 new people.

The Hudson’s are hoping some retail will follow these rooftops, “We have heard the rumors that some shopping centers are moving this way, and we are very anxious to see that happen but as of now, we don't know.”

Marty Griggs owns Freedom Fuels in Fort Mitchell. He says new comers like the Hudson’s keep a steady stream of customers in his store, “It’s definitely been good for business you could say, and it seems that this is the first area that anybody is looking at.”

He says the big business is definitely coming, “I haven't heard about a grocery store yet, but it's only a matter of time.”

Gary Jones is the Vice President of Military Affairs for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He says BRAC will create 1,800 jobs in Russell County and put more than 1,000 kids in Russell County Schools, “I think people are receptive to this growth at this point. Homes are going up, coming up. Homes are being sold, people are moving in already into the homes.”

In Fort Mitchell, families like the Hudson’s and stores like Griggs' are thankful they got in on the ground level.

Griggs tells us, “It's just good to be the first one, and I know I won't be the last but maybe we can just keep the train rolling.”