First Coast military installations secure funding under FL GI Bill

Florida veterans are not the only ones who will benefit from the state GI Bill expected to get the Governor’s signature soon.

WOKV has confirmed there will be an infrastructure boost for two local projects under the Florida Armory Revitalization Program, which is getting $12.5 million overall under the bill.  A $2 million project at Cecil Field and $4.8 million in projects at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center join three other armory restorations that will be authorized when the bill becomes law.

FARP started in 2002 following decades of inconsistent maintenance and upkeep at National Guard armories. In a statement to WOKV, the Guard says many armories “required emergency repairs, had public health and safety concerns, and were not energy efficient- many of these armories were built in the 1950s.

Under FARP, 43 armories have been restored or are in the process of being restored. The program has not received consistent funding since beginning in 2002, but the National Guard nonetheless is already planning FY 16’s appropriation, which would include St. Augustine’s Enslin Armory.  The Mark Lance Armory in St. Augustine and a part of Cecil Field have also received funding in the last few years.

51 armories statewide were identified for FARP, and the Guard hopes to have that completed by 2016.

Part of the GI Bill also includes funding for buying land around three military bases to prevent against encroachment. Part of the $7.5 million allocation will go toward buying 11 acres around Naval Station Mayport.