Fort Monmouth held an expo Thursday to help families decide their next move when the Eatontown base closes, creating an economic gap.

A base closure committee voted last year to shut down Fort Monmouth in 2011 and relocate it to Maryland. Thousands of families and businesses that depend on the base for their livelihood say they are in limbo. Realtors, businesses and officials from Maryland?s Aberdeen Proving Ground were on hand at the expo to answer questions about relocating to Maryland.

The Aberdeen Proving Ground currently pumps $3.5 billion into the local economy. Officials expect that figure to jump to $10.5 billion once Fort Monmouth?s operations relocate there. A New Jersey panel will decide how to redevelop the fort site.

Related Information