Resource Areas

The Fort Carson Regional Growth Plan looks at how specific sectors are affected by growth and deployments. Increases in the number of troops and dramatic fluctuations in the number of soldiers and family members physically present in the region create opportunities and challenges unique to each sector being analyzed.

Key sectors addressed in the Growth Plan include the following:

• Childcare and Development – Assesses Fort Carson-related childcare demand and service requirements to meet child development needs, as well as the economic impacts of childcare on the region.
• Economic Impact and Development – Evaluates impacts of troop growth to the regional economy and opportunities for coordinated economic development and workforce planning.
• Education – Uses growth data to forecast the demand for education services for pre-K through 12 school-age children, children with special needs, and adults seeking further education or job skills training.
• Medical, Behavioral Health, and Social Services –– Assesses the demand for medical and behavioral health services and makes recommendations for improvements to address the unique needs of Fort Carson soldiers and their families. In conjunction, the plan assesses the social services used by soldiers and family members and the capacity to meet increased demands.
• Housing – Examines on- and off-post housing inventory to project future housing demand associated with troop expansion. Phase II will also develop a housing affordability calculator and will evaluate opportunities for multi- and single-family redevelopment and mixed-use development.
• Public Safety and Emergency Services – Evaluates the capacity and preparedness of law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency services, particularly in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and Fountain, to meet existing and future needs.
• Public Utilities and Infrastructure – Analyzes how the projected increase in utility demand and consumption is being planned for and met both on- and off-post.
• Sustainability – Addresses sustainability and quality of life issues in the Fort Carson region, including synergies with regional economic development efforts. Identifies opportunities and challenges to coordinating Fort Carson and community sustainability and economic development efforts and makes recommendations to establish a regional sustainability planning effort in order to assist Fort Carson in meeting its sustainability goals and supporting other local sustainability and economic development efforts related to Fort Carson growth and regional quality of life.
• Transportation, Land Use, & Compatibility – Builds upon previously completed and ongoing land use and transportation planning efforts to assess roadway, transit, and non-motorized needs associated with projected increases in travel demand. The Growth Plan also works to develop coordinated planning efforts in order to address compatible uses of land, air, water, and other resources to fulfill the installation’s training mission.