Huntsville Gifts Houses to Army to Lure Contracts

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- The City of Huntsville, Alabama, spent $3.8 million to build 10 homes for the U.S. Army on nearby Redstone Arsenal. The gift of the first three houses came in 2003 as the government prepared to reorganize its military installations. Joe Ritch, a 61-year-old government practice attorney, helped organize a campaign that contributed to Huntsville's efforts to pull in billions of dollars in defense contracts and win thousands of jobs, creating an oasis of prosperity in a lackluster economy. Bloomberg's Danielle Ivory reports. (Source: Bloomberg)