FORT CARSON, COLORADO (AP) -- An economist says the thousands of soldiers who are expected to relocate to Fort Carson this summer may stem job losses in the Colorado Springs area by 2,500 to 5,000.
The Army post had about 18,100 troops last year. That is expected to climb to 24,600 this year. About $580 million in construction is planned this year to provide housing for them. The Army estimates that the number of military family members in town will grow from 45,600 in 2008 to 62,000 this year.
Deployments are expected to keep 10,000 soldiers overseas at any time, so the post's economic impact will be at about the same level it was before the 2003 Iraq invasion.
By 2013, the post will be get 5,000 more soldiers from an additional brigade.
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