The new facility will be located at the Morgantown Airport and will replace the existing armory, which can no longer adequately support the units assigned there. The National Guard intends to donate the old armory to the City of Morgantown after the new facility is completed.

“The National Guard plays such an important role at both the national and state level,” said Mollohan. “It is an essential component of our military preparedness, of course, plus the Guard has always been the ‘go to’ answer whenever natural disaster strikes or there are other major threats to life and property. This funding will make sure that the men and women of the West Virginia Air National Guard have the facilities they need to carry out their mission.” Mollohan is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.

Morgantown is home to the B Battery of the 1/201st Field Artillery, Detachment 2 of the 1201st Forward Support Company, and the 249th Army Band. The existing facility was built in 1972 and has no area for expansion or adequate parking. It also lacks sufficient administrative, storage, training, and maintenance areas.

“Congressman Mollohan has always supported our efforts to modernize facilities and grow the National Guard presence in north-central West Virginia,” said West Virginia Adjutant General Allen Tackett. "His collaboration on these projects will allow me to build a state-of-the-art facility in Morgantown."

The funding is included in the fiscal year 2011 Military Construction-Veterans Administration appropriations bill. The legislation must be approved by the House and Senate and signed into law before any funding can be delivered.

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