Rensselaer County to Open New State of the Art Emergency Services Training Complex on Thursday, County Executive Steve McLaughlin Announces
County Complex Will Feature New and Advanced Training Systems and Space
Rensselaer County will ensure training and preparation for first responders with the opening of the new Emergency Services Training Complex in North Greenbush, County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced.
The new Emergency Services Training Complex will allow the county to resume training and classes for the first time in several years.
“We owe our emergency services members a debt we can never truly repay. The new Rensselaer County Emergency Services Training Complex will at least be a down payment on our gratitude and appreciation for their dedicated and often heroic service,” said McLaughlin.
“The new complex will ensure the most modern and effective training to ensure our first responders and emergency services have the skills they need to protect lives and property. This is an exciting moment for our county, and we believe this complex is one of the best in the state,” added McLaughlin.
The new county training complex replaces a former complex closed due to heavy use in 2015. The new complex is located on the grounds of the former site on Macha Lane in North Greenbush.
Work has progressed during the past months, with construction starting in 2021 following delays due to the pandemic.
Fire, ambulance and police departments from across the county participated in the event at the new training complex. Elected officials from all levels or their representatives also attended the event.
Along with a brief ceremony, tours of the facility were also given by County Executive McLaughlin and Bureau of Public Safety Director Jay Wilson. Members of the media are invited to attend.
The new training complex includes live fire displays, digital fire displays, various combustible displays and exercises, and a state of the art control system. The new complex also includes a smoke maze. The education building features large classroom space and instructional displays.
The new training complex cost approximately $6 million to construct, with support provided from the Rensselaer County Legislature for the project proposed by McLaughlin. The complex includes three buildings, including a building for fire training, a second education building with large classroom space with kitchen and conference space, and third building with a storage facility. The complex will be able to house multiple classes and sessions for different departments at the same time.
“Our emergency first responders are a critical part of our communities and we want to make sure they have the safest and most modern training facilities, and I am proud to have been a strong proponent of making it happen here in North Greenbush. We have supported this project every step of the way as it overcame the stumbling blocks from COVID, supply chain issues, and other unforeseen circumstances, and it was worth the wait,” said Kelly Hoffman-Chairwoman of the Legislature.
“As the Chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee, I was proud to strongly support the establishment of this state-of-the-art Emergency Services Training Facility. Providing a top-notch training facility for our first responders is an important investment in our communities and the safety of all of our residents,” said Legislator Tom Grant.
“This state-of-the-art training complex will provide emergency crews from Rensselaer County and beyond with a cutting-edge place to learn and hone their skills. We hope that this new facility will also help attract new volunteer firefighters that will serve and protect our communities,” said Legislator Leon Fiacco.