Growing Economic Impact

Creech Air Force Base and Nellis Air Force Base contributed more than $5 billion to the Southern Nevada economy in Fiscal 2008, according to the Nellis annual economic impact analysis figures released March 5. The report (full document; caution, large file), prepared by Nellis’ 99th Comptroller Squadron, shows a $208.6 million increase, a four percent jump, over the previous fiscal year. “Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases have played important roles in southern Nevada since the early 1940s,” said Col. Dave Belote, commander of Nellis’ 99th Air Base Wing. He continued, “As we have continued to grow and develop to stay on the cutting edge of air, space, and cyberspace, our economic impact has increased correspondingly.” According to the report, Nellis and Creech together were the second-largest employer in Nevada’s Clark County with nearly 13,000 uniformed military and civilian employees and a payroll of $921.8 million. And, the bases’ non-payroll expenditures for materials, equipment, supplies, services, and construction within Southern Nevada totaled more than $3.1 billion. (Nellis report by Charles Ramey) (For more, read the March 10 Las Vegas Sun report.)