Feb. 26, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA, Wis. — The Viroqua Common Council received a detailed presentation on Feb 24 regarding the ongoing construction of the new National Guard Readiness Center which is slated to be completed by late fall of 2026.
Colonel Bill Benson who serves as the director of the construction facility management office for the Department of Military Affairs led the presentation to outline the massive state and federal investment in the community. He explained that the old armory was over 60 years old and the 17,000 square foot space had become entirely obsolete for modern military training.
“The old obsolete readiness center little over 60 years old just didn’t fit the needs for the Army National Guard anymore,” said Benson. “But the real problem so the unit that’s assigned there was split between two locations.”
Alderperson Seth McClurg asked for clarification regarding the consolidation of units noting that Sparta previously had its own facility. Benson confirmed that as part of a statewide strategy to decrease the overall number of armories and build modernized regional facilities the military is combining the Sparta and Viroqua units into this single new location.
“Yep but in the end we’re going to combine them both into this location,” said Benson. “Fewer number armories throughout the state building more modernized facilities that really can affect readiness from training and ultimately our success.”
The new building will encompass approximately 36,000 square feet including administrative areas training spaces and a large military vehicle storage building. The total project budget is 24 million dollars with 18 million coming from federal funds and 6 million provided by the state.
Construction officially kicked off in the fall of 2024 but significant groundwork began in the spring of 2025. Benson noted that the project faced early delays due to exceptionally wet and muddy soil conditions but contractors are now back on track.
“We expect fall of 26 around the end of October is when we are projected to have construction complete,” said Benson. “Unit will occupy sometime in 27.”
Economic impact and local housing
The new facility will host up to 140 soldiers during standard drill weekends. Benson showed maps indicating that while a large portion of the troops come from the Sparta and Tomah areas soldiers will be traveling from all over the state to train in Viroqua. Alderperson Steve Willis inquired about the local economic impact specifically whether the troops would be housed on the premises or if they would utilize local accommodations.
“Every once in a while funding will just open up and depending on how far they’re coming from and what the training plan is for that weekend sometime we are able to put them up in the local hotels,” said Benson. “Otherwise they can stay at the armory we do both.”
Alderperson Cyndy Hubbard asked about the daily operations of the large facility and whether maintenance work would be ongoing throughout the week. Benson clarified that the building will remain relatively quiet during standard business hours.
“Monday through Friday no by and large the answer is no,” said Benson. “So there really will be only three or four full time people that work there non stop but really it’s the drill weekends is when they’re doing the majority of their maintenance.”
Public use and community access
The council spent a significant amount of time discussing how the public might interact with the new military campus. Benson stated that while the facility is prioritized for soldiers it will be available to rent for civic government and non profit organizations. He emphasized that military policy prohibits the armory from competing with local private businesses for event hosting.
McClurg asked if the new building would include an indoor firing range which had historically been used by local hunter safety programs.
“No so those ranges we’ve gotten away from all of those lead mitigation was a big concern,” said Benson. “We’ve just gotten away from those indoor ranges completely.”
Deputy Nathan Olson added that while hunter safety classes or Department of Natural Resources groups could use the classrooms they would no longer be able to fire weapons on site.
City Clerk Lori Polhamus brought up the history of using the armory as a backup polling location for city elections. She noted that in the past the military required a soldier to be present to open the doors outside of standard hours which proved inconvenient for election staff.
“At the time we had to have somebody at the facility the entire time we were using it,” said Polhamus. “I was just wondering if that would be something that you guys would consider during that part of.”
Benson explained that security protocols have not changed and active duty personnel must remain in charge of the building.
“The soldiers need to be there full time because they are in charge of security of that facility,” said Benson. “So as those rental agreements happen typically yes we have a full time green suit Army soldier there.”
Olson assured the city that they have established processes to work through these logistical details and noted that four or five other communities around the state successfully use their local armories for voting.
The military plans to host a small ribbon cutting ceremony and allow the community to tour the facility once it is occupied in 2027.
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