CMI Tour April 15
We keep
talking about pipe dreams and what could be. You know the
stuff, a steam engine, some big new business, maybe a thousand
tourists, etc. Such may already be here. This week expect to
see military personnel and vehicles coming thru downtown Clay
on their way to Fort Andrew (Fola Mountain). Those folks have
wallets too.
What we're talking about is non profit Civil Military Innovation (CMI) which has built a significant operation on the old Fola coal property. Not much attention was paid to CMI's footprint until 2023. This year they added a bunch of buildings and capacities on their property.
What the heck do they do? From their website: CMI2 offers management capabilities such as senior military expertise, university innovation, and commercial research. CMI2 supports the idea of creating and utilizing a dynamic civil-military innovation workforce in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and public safety communities.
That is a mouth full but in Appalachian terms, we think, they are training the military with high tech, 21st century weaponry and equipment. Right now, up on the hill, Saab (used to be a car maker) is providing a hands on experience with the most modern blow em up and kill technics. Sort of a show and tell scenario on steroids followed by hands on training.
This week upwards of 180 soldiers, 250 total if you count in support, will be on site for field training of high tech equipment. The event is called "Dirt Days". Lots of the traditional military vehicles were already in place Saturday April 15th. Other Dirt Days are planned for later this year.
Each soldier will be schooled in how to make the tricky stuff work and then actually use it in combat conditions. We think most of the fun will happen after dark daily.
What we're talking about is non profit Civil Military Innovation (CMI) which has built a significant operation on the old Fola coal property. Not much attention was paid to CMI's footprint until 2023. This year they added a bunch of buildings and capacities on their property.
What the heck do they do? From their website: CMI2 offers management capabilities such as senior military expertise, university innovation, and commercial research. CMI2 supports the idea of creating and utilizing a dynamic civil-military innovation workforce in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and public safety communities.
That is a mouth full but in Appalachian terms, we think, they are training the military with high tech, 21st century weaponry and equipment. Right now, up on the hill, Saab (used to be a car maker) is providing a hands on experience with the most modern blow em up and kill technics. Sort of a show and tell scenario on steroids followed by hands on training.
This week upwards of 180 soldiers, 250 total if you count in support, will be on site for field training of high tech equipment. The event is called "Dirt Days". Lots of the traditional military vehicles were already in place Saturday April 15th. Other Dirt Days are planned for later this year.
Each soldier will be schooled in how to make the tricky stuff work and then actually use it in combat conditions. We think most of the fun will happen after dark daily.
Just above
is a brand new command center building. There are several work
stations inside including 3-D work stations. The idea is, in
the field , when something breaks or needs modified, the
computer (CAD) generated part can be produced on site, no
wait.
For
those hardarsses that think nothing can happen in Clayberry,
look at the above pic. That green building is being used as a
kitchen area to feed troops. Duane Legg of Legacy Food and
catering is managing/operating the kitchen duties. That's
local jobs, new local jobs, and it's just beginning.
CMI has been looking to grow in downtown Clay. They're looking for property to build on or a current building to house their offices, a commercial kitchen, dining area and more. Right now, as best we can tell, CMI is looking at the old Denny Scott property (4 acres) in Two Run for that new construction. Think what a difference that could make in dead lookin Clay.
CMI has already been in contact with Clay High administration and hope to be involved there. Coming up is a CCHS career day where they plan to set up a booth.
CMI has been looking to grow in downtown Clay. They're looking for property to build on or a current building to house their offices, a commercial kitchen, dining area and more. Right now, as best we can tell, CMI is looking at the old Denny Scott property (4 acres) in Two Run for that new construction. Think what a difference that could make in dead lookin Clay.
CMI has already been in contact with Clay High administration and hope to be involved there. Coming up is a CCHS career day where they plan to set up a booth.
When
everything is set up, families may tag along with soldiers and
spent the week while training is going on. Many may be in need
of motel rooms. That's new money into our economy. Those
families could spend time on the planned train rides, fishing,
hiking, biking, horse back riding, shopping, and such. That's
even more $$$.
This image of freshly poured concrete pads, 8 of em as we recall, is dated Feb 14 2023.
Now
just 2 months later, take a look at those pads with barracks
in place and in use. Local workers did the concrete work. That's
new jobs.
Many
think of Saab as an international car company. That
would be wrong. Instead, Saab is almost exclusively in
military hardware and body gear. Saab has equipped the place
with new techy equipment for the soldiers which allows for
real time surveillance of the war activities. Some the Saab
gear is now in use in Ukraine.
See that bazooka lookin thingy on the table? It's rigged up with laser technology instead of shells and can be tracked by management, leadership. In real time, on a huge table top screen, bosses can see what is happening every step of the way and make corrections.
We may not see the growth but it's already here. Millions will be spent by CMI in the upcoming months. That amounts to all kinds of job for our local citizenry.
Mark CMI off the pipe dream list. It's here and in operation
AW
See that bazooka lookin thingy on the table? It's rigged up with laser technology instead of shells and can be tracked by management, leadership. In real time, on a huge table top screen, bosses can see what is happening every step of the way and make corrections.
We may not see the growth but it's already here. Millions will be spent by CMI in the upcoming months. That amounts to all kinds of job for our local citizenry.
Mark CMI off the pipe dream list. It's here and in operation
AW