EL PASO (March 8, 2013)—A report by the University of Texas at El Paso says military facilities in the region contribute $5.9 billion a year to the local economy.

Fort Bliss drives much of that revenue, but the adjacent William Beaumont Army Medical Center also is a boon, the report says.

A statement issued by Fort Bliss says the report by UTEP's Institute for Policy and Economic Development shows the post and hospital are responsible for nearly 62,000 jobs and more than $4 billion in compensation to area households.

The report was being presented Friday at an event hosted by the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce amid looming fears of the consequences of federal automatic spending cuts enacted last week.