Infantry Museum To Make Millions For Columbus

Numbers from Columbus State University say the soon to be officially open National Infantry Museum could pump millions into the local economy.

It’s a project years in the making. In 2003 CSU Business Dean Dr. Linda Hadley analyzed the economic impact of the museum’s footprint in Columbus. She came back with some big numbers, $38 million in total impact.

Now, the numbers have changed, “Mainly because of the recession, we would probably scale back just a little bit the overall impact on the economy. We still do think however that is cyclical.”

Dr. Hadley estimates a total impact of $30 million based on the current economy. 

Businesses on Victory Drive still say the museum is moving in money and moving out the mess.

Reggie Richards is the General Manager at the Suburban Extended Stay off Victory Drive, and an organizer for Friday’s Grand Opening. She says, “South Columbus is a destination point- tourism dollars were bringing in so the whole city needs to get together and support this revitalization because that’s where the money is coming in.”

Richards says she’s already booking veterans for the summer, “These folks all want to come down and be a part of the museum. They have yearly reunions and get together and they’re going to be having them here.”

That’s exactly what the Convention and Visitors Bureau was hoping for. President Peter Bowden says they have been marketing to military reunion planners. He says they’ve also been plugging the City in popular journals and magazines, “We have historically found it is a lot easier to make the sale if someone comes to Columbus.”

Bowden says roughly 25% of visitors to Columbus are already military related.

Dr. Hadley says, “When you consider the number of people that actually serve in the military throughout the country and that this is going to be the National Infantry Museum, it’s going to be a real draw, a real draw for the community.”

A draw for the community that could make Columbus millions in the years to come.

Hadley says, “Sure, it may not be $40 million this year or next but the potential is even greater.”

The grand opening will start at 11 at the National Infantry Museum. That’s on South Lumpkin Road, you don’t have to go on post.

General Colin Powell, Former Secretary of State and Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be the featured speaker at the ceremony. The doors will open at noon.