TERRE HAUTE —
Troops from the Indiana National Guard headed for home last week, leaving a happy host behind.
“Although this is a short-term exercise, we have been working with the military personnel involved for the possibility of establishing a permanent training facility on the airport,” Terre Haute International Airport director Dennis Wiss said Friday afternoon, as 160 soldiers representing the five major commands within the Indiana National Guard wrapped up their 13-week training exercise here.
Members of the Guard joined soldiers from Arkansas and Alabama to train on new equipment, using the Terre Haute International Airport as a base since July. The economic impact to the local community is estimated at $1.1 million as the soldiers were largely housed in local hotels.
2nd Lt. Troy Wright was among the soldiers working here, travelling back and forth from Indianapolis each day since earlier in the spring when equipment began arriving. “A lot of the soldiers stayed in local hotels for the whole three months,” he said, noting some traveled back and forth as he did, others came in for a few weeks at a time.
The 2008 Purdue University graduate said he’s preparing to leave for Army Flight School soon, now that this function of his training has been completed.
Wiss said he hopes to capitalize on future partnerships with the military, adding it’s a beneficial relationship for all involved.
“The airport has realized revenue from the exercise that was not anticipated so that is helping the bottom line, but the overall economic impact of this exercise to the whole community really tells the value of the airport,” he said. “These warriors chose the airport to hold their exercise, but it is the local hotels and motels, restaurants and stores that have really benefited, to the tune of over $1.1 million. Just like the NIFA flight competition, the airport is the host for events but it is the community that benefits most from these events.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
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