Staff Photo by Clay Schuldt Members of the new Ulm Chamber Willkommen Commission tour the new Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Shop. The Service Bay is the largest section of FMS at 25,000 square feet. Below is a photo of Major Joe Sharkey and Mayor Terry Svain cutting the ribbon for the new Minnesota National Guard field maintenance facility.
NEW ULM — The new Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Shop (FMS) hosted a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at New Ulm on Thursday.
The facility is 31,000 square feet, with 25,000 square feet reserved for ten service bays, wash bays, and storage. An additional 6,400 square feet will be used for classrooms and office space. The maintenance facility is intended to replace the former FMS at the southern end of New Ulm.
“New Ulm’s new maintenance facility marks a point of recommitment for both the Minnesota National Guard and the city of New Ulm.” Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gile, commander of the 1-125th Field Artillery Regiment. “This facility will bring new capabilities, double the size of our current facility, and add jobs for security guards in this city and region. Responsible for supporting forces in the Southwest from Highway 169 West to South Dakota.”
After the ribbon cutting, members of the Willcomen Committee of the New Alm Regional Chamber of Commerce were able to tour the new facility with representatives from Donler Construction. Project architect Andrew Coopers says his new FMS is built with humans in mind, although vehicle maintenance is the main purpose. The overall design is relatively simple. The building is divided into office and maintenance space.
FMS is the state’s most advanced maintenance shop. A floor heating system keeps mechanics warm while you do repairs in the winter. A rainwater collection system can recycle water for use in washing vehicles. A solar array on the roof provides enough power for the facility on sunny days. Backup generators can power your facility during power outages.
Completion of the FMS is the first phase of the renewal of the National Guard at New Ulm. The second phase is the creation of a new National Guard Readiness Center adjacent to the FMS, which will bring new capabilities to the New Ulm-based battalion. The new preparation center will replace the 100-year-old fortress-like New Ulm Armory on N Broadway. The new readiness center will be completed in 2025.
The creation of the new FMS and Readiness Center will allow more National Guard personnel to work in New Ulm.The FMS will be able to support 31 National Guard positions at full capacity.
Currently, New Ulm Armory trains 100 soldiers each month. That number could triple as other Minnesota National Guard units relocate to New Ulm when the new readiness center is completed in 2025.
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