FEATURE ARTICLE, OCTOBER 2007

DRAWING IN DEVELOPMENT
Fort Hood, the largest military training post in the world, brings strong benefits to the city of Copperas Cove, Texas.
Stephen O’Kane

Fort Hood — the world’s largest military training post — borders the north and east side of Copperas Cove, Texas (above).

Bordering the north and east side of Copperas Cove, Texas, is the world’s largest military training post. Fort Hood, which is named after U.S. General John Bell Hood, the commander of the Texas Brigade during the Civil War, brings unique opportunities to the city of Copperas Cove.

The site for Fort Hood was selected in 1941 and the development of South Camp Hood began the following year. Located 17 miles north of the original site was North Camp Hood, which was established shortly after the original site selection. In 1951, the south camp was designated as a permanent installation named Fort Hood.

Today, Fort Hood is the only military post in the U.S. capable of stationing and training two Armored Divisions. Fort Hood spans more than 217,337 acres of land in Central Texas with more than 220 square miles of training area. But perhaps what is most impressive about Fort Hood is not its size, but what it brings to the surrounding area with regards to economic development.

Copperas Cove, which was established in the 1800s primarily as a cattle industry town, underwent an extreme change when Fort Hood entered the radar screen in the 1940s. Since then, the military post has had a major influence on the city, providing jobs, customers and residents.

Fort Hood is the largest single-location employer in the entire state of Texas. There are approximately 45,000 soldiers assigned the post and the daytime population reaches 75,000, which includes contractors and civilian workers, among others. The post also creates an experienced and well-disciplined work force, as nearly 1,000 soldiers separate from the service each year.

According to the Food Hood Region Veterans Inventory Initiative, conducted by the Killeen Chamber of Commerce, another city that is bounded by Fort Hood, approximately 37.7 percent of military respondents at Fort Hood intend to remain in the region after they have completed their service at the post. These men and women use the skills they have learned to take positions in the law enforcement, management, administrative, transportation and equipment fields, filling several necessary positions within the area.

This alone brings a unique aspect into the surrounding areas, says Monica Hull, marketing director for the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (Copperas Cove EDC). “What makes our community so unique is that we’re isolated from external economic influences,” Hull says. “Fort Hood is stable; while the rest of the country is experiencing a housing crisis, housing starts here are booming. Fort Hood is not going to get shut down; the military gets paid twice a month, without fail.”

However, having such a large, isolated presence in the area does not come without its challenges. While the terrain of the post is perfect for training, it is restricted, leaving the north and east sides of the city virtually landlocked. “From an economic development standpoint, it is difficult for those not familiar with living near a military facility to understand the great advantages of having military and their families as a customer base,” says Hull. “It is also somewhat of a ‘no-man’s-land’ demographically; it is hard to quantify the number of people on Fort Hood, not to mention being able to gather housing, education and income data.”

Despite some of the challenges the economic development organizations of the surrounding cities, Copperas Cove believes the post to be vital to its development as a city. According to the Copperas Cove EDC, marketing the city for new residents is easy when it can boast one of the lowest crime rates in Central Texas, as well as other incentives such as more than 2,500 quality affordable homes in family-friendly neighborhoods and a strong school district that provides aligned curriculum and career and college earning opportunities.

According to the Copperas Cove EDC, the organization is now working together with Fort Hood to bring an open-air retail center to area, furthering its appeal to families of military personnel. “Fort Hood is a true partner in helping Copperas Cove to grow and prosper,” says Jerry Conner, executive director of the Copperas Cove EDC. “We are currently working on a third land-exchange with Fort Hood, which will provide very critical commercial property that can be developed. Acquiring new land as Copperas Cove’s part of the swap will assist Fort Hood in the future encroachment adjacent to Robert Gray Army Airfield.”

According to Conner, an Austin, Texas-based developer is expected to acquire up to 80 acres of the site in order to develop a full-scale regional, open-air retail center serving the Central Texas area. The property is located on the south side of Highway 90 at the southeast entry to the city of Copperas Cove. The concept has already been authorized by the Department of the Army and is now awaiting final approval by Congress.

When added to the already strong incentives the area offers, Copperas Cove and Fort Hood believe the proposed retail development will bring a dedicated customer base to the area, while continuing to offer military and their families all the comforts of home.

Copperas Cove EDC and Fort Hood clearly depict how two completely different entities can come together to provide the services and comforts that residents need to feel at home. “Fort Hood provides jobs, customers and residents, contributing greatly to the growth of Copperas Cove, both in terms of population and economics,” says Hull.


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