FAIRBANKS -- The Department of Defense may spend up to $250 million on missile defense work in Alaska during the next two years, according to information released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The agency expects a prime contractor for the job will be selected by April 12. The Corps estimates the work to be worth between $100 million and $250 million.
The project is expected to be a boost for the Fairbanks area. The project likely will produce 500 to 1,000 jobs, said Dick Cattanach, executive director of the Anchorage-based Associated General Contractors of Alaska.
The money will come from the $7.8 billion Congress approved for missile defense work during this fiscal year. President Bush signed that expenditure into law Jan. 10.
Defense officials have said they want to build about five silos at Fort Greely to house interceptor missiles.
"The government is going to be looking at getting a contractor that has done work like this, of this magnitude. There's only a half-dozen companies in the world" who would likely qualify, Cattanach said.
Alaska companies are expected to serve as subcontractors, he said.
