COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It has been a busy couple of weeks at Fort Carson, as thousands of soldiers have returned to the Mountain Post from year-long deployments overseas.
Now that they are home, those soldiers will be buying cars, moving into homes, and spending money at local businesses.
Between 3,500 and 4,000 soldiers have returned to Fort Carson.
Officials with the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce said the Mountain Post already contributes around $2.1 billion to the local economy every year.
They said when the area sees a surge in returning soldiers, many businesses report an additional boost in sales.
"It is a major factor for us, a lot of the military are young, outdoor enthusiasts, and that fits perfectly with our product," Steve Clark said.
Clark is the General Manager of Rocky Mountain Cycle Plaza, a local business that specializes in motorcycles, ATVs and utility vehicles.
Clark said every time a large group of soldiers return, his business sees a significant spike in sales.
"It could probably easily sway our business by 25 percent, maybe even 35 percent during peak times," Clark said.
Clark said most of the soldiers he sells bikes to are young men, but he added a lot of families also come in looking for ATVs.
These are items they might not otherwise buy, but do with the additional disposable income they have from their time away.
"There is some additional combat-related pay the soldiers in the military get when they are overseas, they are also some tax benefits when they are deployed and working outside the country," Brian Binn, President of Military Affairs with the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, said.
Along with bikes and cars, Binn said the soldiers will also be renting apartments and buying homes.
He expects the vacancy rates across town to decrease.
"What we are seeing now with the schedule of deployments is longer dwell time at home, so they are a little bit more stable than the short duration they had been under for some time," he said.
Of course Binn said when troops deploy, the economy sees the reverse effect. But when it comes down to it, he and Clark agreed the area is lucky to have Fort Carson.
"Three thousand troops coming home in the spring time is going to help for sure," Clark said.
Clark said many of his salesmen communicate with the soldiers while they are deployed through e-mail, ordering and preparing their bikes for when they return home.
He also said his business offers incentives, such as discounts and promotions, to the returning troops.
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