Schumer, Meeks announce: Following their successful effort to secure $91m funding, construction contract has been awarded for expansion and renovation project at National Guard readiness center at Jamaica armory in Queens, New York; project will modernize infrastructure & enhance readiness

Statement

U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Gregory Meeks today announced that, following their successful push to secure a historic $91 million in funding for the cornerstone Southeast Queens project, the construction contract for the sorely-needed and long-sought projects at the Jamaica Armory has been awarded. The senator and congressman explained that the project includes a 41,000 square foot addition to the Jamaica Readiness Center and restoration of an existing 140,000 square foot facility to support the center's training, administrative, and logistical needs.

The inadequate and outdated condition of the Jamaica Readiness Center impacts the New York Army National Guard's response capabilities. The construction project includes upgrades to the Readiness Center's gas, electric, sewer, water and communication utilities, in addition to a new roofing system and an emergency generator. Furthermore, new security cameras will be installed to bolster security measures and controlled access.

"This project to modernize the Jamaica Armory will be a huge boost to all of Southeast Queens, which is why we fought so hard to secure the $91 million in federal funds to make it happen. It will completely revamp and modernize the Jamaica Armory and serve as a boon and anchor to the Southeast Queens community, the National Guard and all of New York City," said Senator Schumer. "Now that the construction contract has been awarded, we are near shovels in the ground, which will improve the New York Army National Guard's long-term readiness and recruitment capabilities. I have been a staunch advocate of the Jamaica Armory project for years and I'll continue to support the project through its completion and until all modernization goals have been met."

"The Jamaica Armory's long needed modernization and expansion can finally look to breaking ground with the successful inclusion of this funding in the NDAA. This funding will be of tremendous help for the National Guard's operations here in my district and indeed for all of New York. I thank Senator Schumer for being a staunch supporter of this project in the Senate and working with my office to secure the funds for the construction contract," said Congressman Meeks.

In March 2019, at the urging of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, the military construction project at the Jamaica Armory was listed at number one on the Army National Guard's Unfunded Priorities List. Prior to the senators' and congressman's intervention, no funds were allocated to the Jamaica Readiness Center in the Future Years Defense Program. In December 2019, Schumer, Gillibrand and Meeks secured $91 million for the project in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020.

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