Editing Delta Junction, Alaska (section)

=== Contemporary (1991&ndash;present) ===
During the 1990s and 2000s, immigrants from the [[former Soviet republics]] came to the area, significantly changing the makeup of the local population. Fort Greely was included on the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] (BRAC) list in 1995. From 1995 to 2002, Fort Greely was gradually re-aligned through a gradual drawdown in both military and civilian personnel. Once BRAC was complete in 2002, Fort Greely remained open but was staffed with fewer than 100 military and civilian personnel. During this time the remaining workers were either associated with public works functions or the Cold Regions Test Center, which continued testing on the installation. Headquarters for both the Cold Regions Test Center and the Northern Warfare Training Center moved to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks in 2002. Base housing and numerous surplus buildings remained vacant, though the Army continued heating and maintaining them.

Re-alignment of Fort Greely resulted in heated discussion throughout the Delta Junction community over a proposal to site a [[private prison|privately operated]] state [[prison]] within surplus buildings on Fort Greely. Eventually, the city of Delta Junction entered into a contract with Allvest Corporation to operate this prison. Plans for the prison eventually fell through. Allvest Corporation subsequently sued Delta Junction for $1{{nbsp}}million for [[breach of contract]].

Shortly after BRAC was complete, the United States government announced plans to build a missile defense installation at Fort Greely.  The installation was then divided into two parts operated by two different commands — U.S. Army Garrison Alaska and Space and Missile Defense Command. The main post retained the name Fort Greely and is operated by the Space and Missile Defense Command. Outlying range, training and impact areas were absorbed by Fort Wainwright and were renamed Donnelly Training Area.

From 2002 to 2005, Delta Junction experienced an economic boom similar to the pipeline days as Fort Greely became fully operational again and the missile test bed was constructed.  National firms such as [[Boeing]], [[Bechtel]], and [[Brown and Root]], as well as regional firms including Chugach opened up offices on the installation, under contract to the government.  Construction of the Pogo Gold Mine just north of Delta Junction, near the [[Goodpaster River]], also contributed significantly to the economic fortune of the city. Mineral deposits near Tangle Lakes, south of Delta Junction, will likely result in additional development of mining in the area.