The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce used its June Executive Luncheon series to begin a new tradition, with more than 250 people attending the chamber’s inaugural Military Appreciation event at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
Russell Lahodny, President and CEO of the chamber, said there are two reasons the organization wanted to begin the event. First, to honor the men and women stationed at Fort Gordon who serve America and secondly, to acknowledge the tremendous economic impact the Army post has on the local economy.
“Our business community thrives off of our military. You think about the number of people that come through here, that are stationed at Fort Gordon, that can’t be duplicated by any other industry,” he said. “They come out, they support our businesses, they buy things at the stores, and they use the services. All of those things are hugely supported by folks that come through Fort Gordon.”
According to the Augusta Economic Development Authority, Fort Gordon is the largest employer in Columbia and Richmond counties, with nearly 30,000 military and civilian employees. Military salaries total $1.2 billion, with $329 million in civilian salaries. Add to that, the 6,000 employees at the National Security Agency. Overall, Fort Gordon’s economic impact is an estimated $2.4 billion.
There was a common thread through a number of the speeches, hiring people who have served in the military is good for local businesses.
As Piedmont Hospital’s Laurie Ott summed it up, “See them, employ them.”
Dr. Tom Clark, Executive Director of the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon and retired Command Sergeant Major at the fort, was the featured speaker.
Clark told attendees today’s Army is far different from the one their parents or grandparents may have served in. Today’s soldiers are older, more educated with the majority holding at least a high school diploma, higher numbers of females and minorities and they all voluntarily took an oath to protect America at home and abroad.
Some become career military, but others muster out when their tour is finished.
“I got this from the transition folks, 2,800 leave the military and return into our workforce here in Columbia County and within our region. That is huge for our workforce and workforce development,” he said. “I ask that you continue to employ these young men and women. They come to your companies with security clearances, they come drug-free and they come with a history of coming to work on time.”
He also encouraged the audience to support small businesses owned by veterans and their families.
“These small businesses make up a huge part of the chamber. Pick a couple and support them relentlessly,” he encouraged the crowd.
He also asked the business and government leaders to support their effort to create a new Interstate 20 interchange. It will be between existing exits 183 and 190 and will be a direct route to the fort’s recently created Gate 6.
Clark said his organization is preparing for when Fort Gordon becomes Fort Eisenhower on October 27. One obvious change will be renaming themselves as the CSRA Alliance for Fort Eisenhower. The change is happening as the Alliance is approaching its 20th anniversary.
The luncheon also included another first, with the chamber presenting the inaugural Patriot Award. It will be presented to businesses and individuals who give unwavering support to the military community. The first recipient was JANUS Research Group, LLC.
“The organization meets rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria including veteran hiring and retention percentages, availability of veteran-specific resources, leadership programming for veterans dedicated to Human Resources efforts, pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans,” said Lahodny.
JANUS, with its headquarters office in Evans, was founded in 1997 as a virtual training and mission support service. Since then, it has grown to include research and development, logistics, and cyber engineering.
