Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that the Congress passed the final National Defense Authorization Act yesterday, which includes $20 million for the construction of a new Army Reserve Center in Schenectady. The new facilities would allow for state-of-the-art, high security military and counter-terrorism training.
“This state of the art training center in Schenectady is going to be a shot in the arm for the city, and a big boost to our men and women in uniform,” said Schumer. “It’s going to keep the Schenectady Army Reserve Center at the forefront of our national defense, and be a shot in the arm for our community as it helps to create hundreds of construction jobs in the Capital Region. Our men and women in uniform deserve the best facilities and resources in the world, as this investment is going to help deliver just that.”
“This is a great investment for Schenectady,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This federal funding would allow the Army Reserve to better train soldiers for combat with top-of-the-line technology while still remaining close to home. This Reserve Center and the new neighboring Navy Research Center in Glenville would ensure our men and women in uniform have the very best facilities and opportunities. They and their families have sacrificed for all of us and we owe them for their incredible service.”
The Schenectady Army Reserve Center will be a high-security military training and operations facility to prepare soldiers for battle and counter-terrorism operations. The new facility would span 60,000 square feet and will be situated on 3 acres of Niskayuna Commerce Park on Hillside Avenue, steps from the older and smaller Schenectady Army Reserve Center it will be replacing.
The project is expected to create approximately 200 construction jobs for a year.
The Center’s plans call for a training building, a vehicle maintenance shop with multiple bays and maintenance support staff, a library, a learning center, a weapons simulator, and a physical fitness area for 12 Army Reserve units.
Federal defense spending must be authorized before money can be appropriated, and Congress passed the authorizing bill yesterday. Passage of the appropriations bill is expected this weekend and then signed by the President.