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Staff photos by Clay Schultz Members of the new Ulm Chamber Welcome Committee tour the new Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Shop. The service bay is the largest part of FMS, occupying 25,000 square feet. Below, Major Joe Sharkey and Mayor Terry Swain cut the ribbon on the new Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Shop.

NEW ULM – The newest Minnesota National Guard Field Maintenance Shop (FMS) in New Ulm hosted a special ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday.

The facility is 31,000 square feet, with 25,000 square feet reserved for 10 service bays, restrooms and storage. An additional 6,400 square feet will be used for classroom and office space. The maintenance facility is intended to replace the former FMS at the southern end of New Ulm.

“The new maintenance facility in New Ulm marks a point of re-commitment for both the Minnesota National Guard and the City of New Ulm.” Army Lt. Col. Mark Gile, commander of the 1-125th Field Artillery Regiment. “This facility will bring new capabilities and double the size of our current facility, adding jobs to our patrol members from this city and the surrounding area. From trucks to wheeled vehicles, the New Ulm Army Field Maintenance Shop is responsible for supporting units in southwest Minnesota from Highway 169 west to South Dakota.

After the ribbon cutting, members of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wellcommen Committee were able to tour the new facility with representatives from Dollar Construction. Project architect Andrew Coopers says the main purpose of the new FMS is to protect vehicles, but it was built with people in mind. The overall design is relatively simple, he said. The building is divided between an office and a maintenance area.

FMS is the most modern repair shop in the state. Underfloor heating systems warm the mechanics during winter maintenance. A rainwater collection system can reuse water used for cleaning vehicles. The solar array on the roof provides enough energy for the facility on sunny days. A backup generator can power the facility in the event of an outage.

Completion of the FMS is the first phase of National Guard reform at New Ulm. The second phase is the creation of a new National Guard Readiness Center adjacent to the FMS, which will bring new capabilities to the New Ulm-based battalion. The new readiness center at N. It will replace the fortress-like new Ulm Armory on Broadway. The new preparedness center is expected to be completed by 2025.

The creation of the new FMS and Readiness Center will allow a larger number of National Guard members to work in New Ulm. FMS can support 31 National Guard locations at full capacity.

Currently, 100 soldiers are drilled in the New Ulm Armory every month. By 2025, when a new readiness center is completed, that number could triple as other Minnesota National Guard units move to New Ulm.