A new study from the state shows how dependent Alaska is on the military.
The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports that 60 percent of all federal dollars spent in Alaska are devoted to defense spending. The state estimates the military will spend $486 million next year on Alaska projects.
The study is from the state Department of Labor and published in this month’s Alaska Economic Trends magazine.
It also shows the Fairbanks North Star Borough has the largest percentage of residents with ties to the military. Just under 23 percent of residents there are employed by the military or a military dependent. Coming in second with nearly 22 percent was the Denali Borough, home to Clear Air Force Station.
Kodiak came in third with 18 percent, mostly Coast Guard members.
