The Iowa National Guard dedicated its new $17-million Readiness Center in Iowa City Monday. The center replaces a 1930’s era armory. Iowa Guard commander, Adjutant General Timothy Orr, says the center serves deploying guardsmen and their families.
Orr says,”It’s the newest and largest facility that we have built outside of Camp Dodge in the last 20 years.” Orr says more Readiness Centers are being built. The first one is in Cedar Rapids, followed by Muscatine and Middletown. He says they are working with state legislators to replace the armory in Davenport.
General Orr says Iowa City’s Readiness Center has 44-full-time employees — and adding in those who come for training — it adds some $8-million to the region’s economy.