The City of Sierra Vista was awarded $1.4 million from the Sinema-backed Defense Community Infrastructure Program to construct an Emergency Medical Services building near Fort Huachuca
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded a $1.43 million grant awarded to the City of Sierra Vista through the Sinema-backed Defense Community Infrastructure Program. The funding will be used to build a an Emergency Medical Services building adjacent to Fort Huachuca, improving the quality of life and access to health care for military families at Fort Huachuca and residents of Sierra Vista.
“Today’s funding announcement boosts investment in Sierra Vista, increases access to health care for military families, and improves the quality of life for Soldiers at Fort Huachuca. I’ll continue working with Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista community leaders to strengthen and expand services at the base and ensure servicemembers get the care they earned,” said Sinema.
Today’s funding is through the newly developed Defense Community Infrastructure Program, a program backed by Sinema.
Sinema has long been a champion for Fort Huachuca. In this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, Sinema helped secure a number of priorities for Fort Huachuca, including:
- $100 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program, allowing the Department of Defense to partner with conservation trusts to acquire land. The land will be used to protect Fort Huachuca from commercial or residential encroachment that could undermine training or the use of the airspace.
- $33.7 million for military construction on the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Laboratory Building at Fort Huachuca. The DISA Lab Building will consolidate Joint Interoperability Test Command (JTIC) operations, which are currently located in temporary trailers, into a modern facility at Fort Huachuca. JITC testbed facility will provide global testing capabilities, which extends to the entire spectrum of DoD, Federal government, private industry, and allies in support of commands and control, intelligence and defense reform initiative.
Last year, Sinema visited Fort Huachuca and received briefings on military intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and CBP Air Marine Operations. She also met with Sierra Vista leaders including members of the Fort Huachuca 50.
Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army’s Intelligence Center of Excellence, which produces top Army intelligence Soldiers and officers. Fort Huachuca is the largest employer in Cochise County and it has the largest economic impact of any military installation in Arizona. In 2017, Arizona estimated Fort Huachuca is directly or indirectly responsible for more than 21,000 jobs, nearly $1 billion in wages, and $2.9 billion in output. In 2016, Fort Huachuca had a population of about 5,000 active duty servicemembers, 7,400 military family members, and 6,800 civilian employees.