GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids is getting its first dedicated firefighter training facility that officials say will provide realistic, hands-on training to ensure firefighters in the region are prepared to respond to an emergency.

The new $46 million Grand Rapids Fire Department Training Center, 850 Pannell Road NW, is officially under construction after city officials broke ground at the site Thursday, Aug. 28.

Set to be completed in spring 2027, the planned 97,875-square-foot facility will consolidate training and fire operations onto a single campus, including the fire department’s live fire training, maintenance shop and emergency operations center, which are all currently spread out across the city.

Fire Chief Brad Brown said the new facility will expand training opportunities and

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