Luverne Training and Community Center Groundbreaking
December 9, 2021 (Luverne, Minnesota) — The Minnesota National Guard is breaking ground on a new Training and Community Center in Luverne on Tuesday, Dec. 14th.
“The new Training and Community Center in Luverne will be a quality, eco-friendly building that will enhance training, bring new capabilities to the area, and contribute to the mission readiness of the Soldiers in the local unit,” said Army Lt. Col. Troy Fink, Construction and Facilities Management Officer for the Minnesota National Guard. “The 46,293 square-foot building will feature assembly halls, work bays, storage areas, classrooms and a learning center, a fitness center with locker rooms, and it will be certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council.”
The new Training and Community Center replaces the Luverne Armory located on Freeman Avenue, which was built in 1922. The $17.5 million project is anticipated to be completed in June 2023.
“We were happy to accept a very generous offer from the KAHR foundation. This, combined with the provision of land by the city, accelerated our plan to replace the armory in Luverne. The Department of Military Affairs and the Minnesota State Armory Building Commission are excited to see this wonderfulnproject move forward.” said Don Kerr, Department of Military Affairs Executive Director.
The new facility will be a benefit not only to the National Guard but to the community of Luverne as well.
“Our community couldn’t be more excited to have a new Minnesota National Guard Armory being built in Luverne,” said Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian. “The presence of National Guard members will provide significant benefits to the community, county, and the State of Minnesota for decades to come. It will be a visible anchor in our community that all citizens of Luverne and fellow Minnesotans can be proud of.”
Note: Media and community members are invited to attend the Luverne Readiness Center Groundbreaking. Key military personnel and centers of influence will meet at 1p.m. at the current Luverne Armory, located at 309 S Freeman Ave., and information about the new facility will be shared. At approximately 2 p.m., the group will move to the site of the new armory on W Koehn Ave. for the groundbreaking.
Lt. Col. Troy Fink, Construction and Facilities Management Officer for the Minnesota National Guard, and Lt. Col. Mark Gile, commander of 1st Battalion, and 125th Field Artillery Regiment will be available for media interviews. Please RSVP to Cpt. Andrea Drost at andrea.e.drost.mil@army.mil or 651-282-4670.
About the Minnesota National Guard –
Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen who serve in 58 communities across the state. The Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies and contribute to local communities. For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.
