Governor announces modernization of Camp Santiago with federal funds

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, center, said the work at Camp Santiago in Salinas is part of a total federal allocation of $500 million secured during her tenure as resident commissioner in Washington, aimed at reconstructing military facilities severely impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria. (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Wednesday that the modernization of the Camp Santiago Joint Training Center in Salinas is continuing with a federal investment of $300 million currently underway, as part of the program to reconstruct and modernize military facilities in Puerto Rico.

“This investment not only strengthens our security but also boosts economic development and demonstrates our commitment to the future of the island,” González Colón said in a written statement.

The governor noted that the work is part of a total federal allocation of $500 million secured during her tenure as resident commissioner in Washington, aimed at reconstructing military facilities severely impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria, of which $300 million is currently being implemented.

“The transformation of Camp Santiago is a testament to our commitment to our soldiers and to the security of Puerto Rico and the Nation,” said Puerto Rico National Guard Adjt. Gen. Carlos Rivera Román. “By the summer of 2027, Camp Santiago will have over 29 new state-of-the-art structures, consolidating its position as the main training center in the Americas. We are building the facilities that our troops deserve.”

The project, announced in February 2023, constitutes the largest construction project in the history of the Puerto Rico National Guard and includes 29 new buildings, with nearly 300,000 square feet of facilities for companies, battalions, brigades, maintenance, and operational infrastructure, in addition to two dining halls with a capacity for 200 people each and accommodations with 948 beds.

According to released data, the construction phase is generating some 400 direct jobs and 200 indirect jobs, in addition to an estimated contribution of $7.9 million in state taxes and $700,000 in municipal taxes.

Rivera Román added that the long-term lease agreement guarantees the operational readiness of the National Guard and the capacity to respond to state and federal emergencies.