Congress Approves Millions for New National Guard Center in EG

EAST GREENWICH, RI—The plan for a new Rhode Island National Guard Readiness Center to be built in East Greenwich on state-own land at Camp Fogarty moved a step closer to fruition last week after a key Senate vote in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said on Friday that the 89 to 8 vote to pass the $74.9 billion fiscal 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill paves the way for the new facility, which he backed.

"This bill honors our commitment to our veterans and makes key investments in enhancing our security. The new National Guard Readiness Center will help our citizen soldiers train for their mission, whether it is overseas or responding to major disasters here at home. I am pleased to help deliver federal resources to create an improved environment for our soldiers and the community here in East Greenwich,” Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said.

The new 80,000 square foot Readiness Center will support training, administrative and logistical requirements for the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard.

The new space will allow both to work out the same location, improving efficiency and communications, Reed said.

The existing command center, located on New London Avenue in Cranston, "lacks adequate administrative space, classrooms, locked storage space and an assembly hall for unit formations—all of which adversely affect the Command's ability to meet readiness, retention and training objectives," according to a news release from Reed's office.

Governor Gina Raimondo is proposing $32 million be spent to build the new Joint Force Headquarters at the Camp Fogarty site in fiscal 2017. Of the total, $21.5 million would come from the federal funds and $10.7 would come from the state's capital asset fund, according the proposed budget.

The Cranston facility also houses the state Emergency Management Agency and the space cramp is especially evident "during times of National Guard or Emergency Management activation," according to the proposed budget.

The project will be built in three phases, beginning with site surveying and utility extensions in Phase I. Design and bid specs occur in Phase II this July and construction contracts should be awarded by January of 2017 for the final phase.

The project is expected to be completed in late 2020.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar measure and the two bills will be reconciled in a conference committee, Reed said.

Photo courtesy: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed