CHICOPEE, Mass.—The Air Force says Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee pumped about $231 million into the area's economy in the past year. Daniel McCarthy, the base's cost and management analyst, says the total for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 is about $36 million more than the previous year.
McCarthy tells The Republican of Springfield the jump is partly due to $23 million in construction projects that upgraded runways and roads and improved hangars. He also cited $13 million in increased salaries and services to a staff that stayed roughly the same.
Base commander Col. Robert Swain Jr. says he's in contact with leaders in surrounding communities and tries to make sure that area businesses get some of the base's contract work.
------
Information from: The Springfield Republican, http://www.masslive.com/news/
