Ribbon cutting for school that will train thousands of soldiers. (July 2, 2009)
While many college students are taking the summer off, the first students are arriving this month at a different kind of university.
The Army Logistics University at Fort Lee opened Thursday, offering hundreds of courses and will eventually be capable of training thousands of military and civilian students. Those students are expected to pump lots of money into the local economy.
While the school is geared for the U.S. Army, troops from around the world will now train at the state of the art facility, more than 40,000 each year.
"For the community, most all of them will live off post," says Major General Jim Chambers.
That's good news for area businesses that opened nearby because of Fort Lee's expansion.
"We're dependent on Fort Lee. Without them, we'd be in real trouble in this economy," Chris Andreano, Owner Chicago Unos Grill.
"Theres a good mix of the Army and Corporate, but having the Fort Lee here, you know keeps our occupancy up," says Richard Bowles of Holiday Inn.
The University is now the largest building on post, but construction at Fort Lee is far from over.
"There simply is no greater economic engine we have than what's going on at Fort Lee right now, and this facility is a part of it," says Congressman Randy Forbes.
"Fort Lee is the economic driver for the region," says Petersburg Mayor, Annie Mickens.
Within the next few years, more than $1 billion will have been pumped into Fort Lee, and that's money being pumped right into the economy in Central Virginia.
The Army Logistics University at Fort Lee opened Thursday, offering hundreds of courses and will eventually be capable of training thousands of military and civilian students. Those students are expected to pump lots of money into the local economy.
While the school is geared for the U.S. Army, troops from around the world will now train at the state of the art facility, more than 40,000 each year.
"For the community, most all of them will live off post," says Major General Jim Chambers.
That's good news for area businesses that opened nearby because of Fort Lee's expansion.
"We're dependent on Fort Lee. Without them, we'd be in real trouble in this economy," Chris Andreano, Owner Chicago Unos Grill.
"Theres a good mix of the Army and Corporate, but having the Fort Lee here, you know keeps our occupancy up," says Richard Bowles of Holiday Inn.
The University is now the largest building on post, but construction at Fort Lee is far from over.
"There simply is no greater economic engine we have than what's going on at Fort Lee right now, and this facility is a part of it," says Congressman Randy Forbes.
"Fort Lee is the economic driver for the region," says Petersburg Mayor, Annie Mickens.
Within the next few years, more than $1 billion will have been pumped into Fort Lee, and that's money being pumped right into the economy in Central Virginia.
