Jamaica Armory To Get $91M For National Guard Readiness Center

JAMAICA, QUEENS — Congress is expected to a pass a bill next week authorizing the U.S. Department of Defense to devote $91 million in federal funding to an overhaul of the National Guard readiness center at the Jamaica Armory in Queens.

The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which outlines the defense department's budget appropriations for the 2019-2020 year, will authorize full funding to upgrade the readiness center and build a 41-000-square foot addition, according to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer's office.

The project includes "essential" new infrastructure that will replace outdated mechanical systems and eliminate environmental and safety hazards at the center.

The Jamaica Armory, located at 93rd Avenue and 168th Street, currently has no emergency generator backup in the event of a natural disaster in New York City and needs security system improvements to control building access, according to Schumer's office.

A new roof and upgraded electrical, gas, plumbing, sewer, water and communication infrastructure are also part of the multimillion-dollar project.

Construction is expected to begin during the 2020-2021 fiscal year and take four years to complete, a spokesperson for Schumer said.

"This huge federal investment will completely revamp and modernize the Jamaica Armory and serve as a boon and anchor to the Queens community, the National Guard and all of New York City," Schumer said. "The readiness of our nation’s military is built, in part, on adequate facilities that support troops."

In March, Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Committee, pushed to move the construction project to the top of the Army National Guard's list of unfunded priorities.

"The funding will be used to support unit training, mobilization, emergency response, and logistics at Jamaica Armory’s Readiness Center," Gillibrand said. "The Jamaica Armory is essential to our country’s national defense, the Army’s mission and the New York community."