934th Airlift Wing releases economic impact data Published Jan. 6, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Minneapolis, St. Paul -- The Air Force Reserve's 934th Airlift Wing released its Economic Impact Analysis for Fiscal Year 2010 on November 29, outlining more than $128 million in total economic impact that affects the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. "We have a lot of dollars that come into the community. We generate a lot of economic activity outside of the base because of the payrolls that we pay out, the supplies and equipment that we purchase, the local contractors that we hire for services on the base, along with numerous other services from the community that we utilize each year," said Randy Knish, 934th Airlift Wing management analysis. The 934th Airlift Wing spends $62 million on payrolls, $32 million in construction, services and material and indirectly creates more than 600 jobs worth $33 million, according to the report. "Just by the dollars that are drawn in, we can extrapolate how many jobs are created in the local community," said Knish referring to the indirect jobs created. Payroll expenditures include pay and allowances for 1,553 military personnel and over 450 civilian employees, a population equivalent to such Minnesota cities as St. Bonifacius, Pelican Rapids, LeCenter, Lauderdale or Excelsior, who each have populations around 2,300 residents. Knish said the $128 million economic impact is similar to previous years. "Last year we had an economic impact of $126.8 million. The increase this year was largely due to a few additional construction projects. Some years we get more construction dollars than other years," he said. Some of the construction projects for fiscal year 2010 include road and utility reconstruction, flightline construction and a backup generator power project. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station encompasses the Air Force Reserve's 934th Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing, the Navy-Marine Corps Readiness Center and the Army Reserve's 372nd Engineering Brigade. The information only includes that of the 934th Airlift Wing.