ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE TWENTYNINE PALMS MARINE BASE ON OUR MORONGO BASIN

The Morongo Basin’s largest employer is the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Managing editor Tami Roleff says the base’s Assistant Chief of Staff Jim Ricker was at the Yucca Valley Town Council meeting Tuesday night to report on the base’s economic impact on the Morongo Basin…
According to the Combat Center’s 2016 Community Impact Report, the Combat Center supports 16,000 jobs on the installation and surrounding communities, which is equal to 52 percent of all employment locally. Furthermore, the Combat Center’s direct and indirect spending comprises 48 percent of the Morongo Basin’s economic activity. In 2015, 13,300 active-duty Marines and sailors, and civilian and contract employees at the Combat Center were paid about $500 million. In addition, more than 1,600 military and Department of Defense retirees reside in the Morongo Basin. Retirees received $42 million in pensions annually, with more than half–$26 million—paid to the 1,027 retirees who live in Twentynine Palms. In addition, the Combat Center spends millions in the areas of health care and utilities, and indirectly supports 2,500 full- and part-time jobs in the Morongo Basin.