Mass. sixth in nation for defense contracts
A new report has found that the defense industry pumped $20 billion into the Massachusetts economy in fiscal year 2013, making it the sixth in the nation for securing defense contracts.
The report, from the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, found that defense contract work supported more than 88,000 workers and contributed more than $20 billion to the Massachusetts economy in 2013. The defense industry was found to be important to New England as a whole, contributing $49 billion and more than 218,000 jobs throughout the region. Massachusetts was found to be the top defense contracting state in New England and ranked sixth nationally in contracts received behind such heavy hitters as California at number one and Virginia in second.
Defense companies in the state included Holyoke’s Meridian Industrial Group, which does machining for portable MRI equipment, and David Clark Company which creates pressure suits for the U.S. Air Force and NASA. These firms, along with the state’s six bases, continue to have an impact on the economy, said Governor Charlie Baker, explaining that these industries can also benefit the state’s academic and technology sectors.
Another report from the institute found that Massachusetts military installations directly or indirectly supported more than 57,000 jobs with a total economic contribution of more than $13 billion during fiscal year 2013.
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