AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.—The Air Force Academy’s estimated impact on the Colorado Springs-area economy is up about 9 percent, largely because of construction spending.
Officials said Thursday the school injected more than $851 million into the economy during fiscal 2010, which was October 2009 through September 2010.
The previous year’s estimate was about $781 million.
The 2010 figure includes $375.5 million for construction, services, materials, equipment and supplies. Construction projects include an indoor athletic training facility.
The 2010 figure also includes $321.5 million in military and civilian payroll at the academy and $154.4 million in payroll from community jobs created because of the school’s presence.
The academy estimates it has indirectly created 3,600 community jobs paying an average of $43,000 annually. Those figures are based on a Defense Department formula and local data.
