Colonel Benson outlines $24 million Viroqua Readiness Center; construction due fall 2026

Colonel Bill Benson, director of the Construction Facility Management Office for the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, briefed the Viroqua City Council on Feb. 24 about the new Viroqua Readiness Center, calling it a modern replacement for the roughly 60-year-old armory.

Benson said the new facility will be about 36,000 square feet with administration, training and storage space, plus a separate military vehicle storage building. "It's about 36,000 square ft including admin, training area and storage," he said, and described a total project budget of $24 million, with approximately $18 million coming from federal funds and $6 million from the state.

The project replaces an older 17,000-square-foot armory that could no longer meet current Army National Guard needs. Hamid Kazai, project manager for the Viroqua Readiness Center, and deputy Nathan Olsen joined Benson for the presentation.

Why it matters: the new facility consolidates units, increases readiness and provides a space the Guard says will both support military training and be available for limited civic and nonprofit uses. The council and attendees used the question-and-answer period to press presenters on public-safety and community-use issues.

Benson gave timing details: construction began in earnest in spring 2025 after an organizational kickoff in fall 2024. "We expect [construction] around the end of October [2026]" and the unit would occupy the site sometime in 2027, he said, adding the city should expect a small ribbon-cutting or community preview rather than a large open house.

The 107th Maintenance Company is slated to be based at the Viroqua armory, Benson said, with approximately 140 soldiers attached and three to four full-time personnel on site who will handle weekday administrative duties. Most maintenance and training activities will occur during drill weekends and occasional summer training periods.

On public use, Benson said the facility will be available for government, civic and nonprofit groups so long as such use does not conflict with training: "we will not compete with local businesses," he said. Examples given include elections, youth groups and food pantry staging, though the Guard will prioritize soldier needs and training schedules when approving rentals. Some civic uses (such as elections) have been allowed in other armories without rental fees.

Presenters also addressed safety and operations. When asked whether the new armory would include an indoor firing range, Benson said no, adding that the Guard has moved away from indoor ranges for lead-mitigation reasons. On event staffing and security, Benson said soldiers assigned to the facility provide security and that rental requests are reviewed against training schedules to avoid conflicts.

Next steps: the Guard expects construction completion in late October 2026 and unit occupancy in 2027, with staff to follow up on community-rental procedures and local event planning. The council did not take action on this presentation; it was provided as an informational update.