On November 4, Flager County Sheriff Rick Staly, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, Florida State Guard Executive Director Mark Thieme, and Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance broke ground on the new Florida State Guard Multi-Agency Regional Training Facility on Justice Lane in Bunnell.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature appropriated 10 million dollars to fund the training complex. The Florida State Guard’s new regional training facility is being built on county-owned property near the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and Jail Administration building. The training complex includes offices and classroom space, a tactical firearms range, a tactical training house, a reinforced parking area that can be used for driver training, and more. The facility will be available for the Florida State Guard to train its law enforcement component, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler County Fire-Rescue, and other first responder agencies across the region.
Sheriff Rick Staly worked with House Speaker Paul Renner, Governor Ron DeSantis’ office, and the Florida State Guard to secure funding and make the decision to locate the joint regional training facility in Flagler County. The Florida State Guard and Flagler County Board of County Commissioners signed a 30-year lease agreement in the state and county partnership. There is an option for a 10-year lease extension.
“We’ve been working towards this day for a few years. The Florida State Guard Regional Training Facility is a game changer for not only the Florida State Guard but for law enforcement and fire-rescue training in our region,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “The complex will be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art training technology. Everyone in this facility will receive the highest and best training possible. It will enhance the partnership between the Florida State Guard and local law enforcement and fire departments, particularly during joint deployments for emergencies like hurricanes. I want to thank Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Florida State Guard Executive Director Mark Thieme, and all the legislators who helped make this facility a reality!”
“Flagler County embraces these opportunities to work with our state and local partners, and this is a great example of that,” said Flagler County Commission Chairman Andy Dance. “This is also a great economic opportunity for Flagler County when the Guard is housed here and in training.”
“Providing the people of Florida with the best year-round crisis and emergency response capabilities begins with high-quality training for high-risk missions alongside top-tier partners,” added Florida State Guard Executive Director Mark Thieme. “The multi-functional training campus will provide immediate, intermediate, and advanced-level training opportunities.”
“The State Guard has become something special, exactly what we envisioned,” said House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast). “And what we’re doing in Flagler County is ensuring they have the highest level of training so they can act swiftly if a situation does arise.”
“It is exciting that Bunnell was selected to be the training facility for the Florida State Guard,” said Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson. “This is another economic catalyst for Bunnell; visiting Guardsmen will embark on our community each weekend, contributing to our local economy. Direct and indirect jobs will be created.”
The Florida Department of Management Services (FDMS) is responsible for constructing the training complex. Contracts for site and architectural design and construction have been awarded by FDMS. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2027.
The Florida State Guard was created in 1941 as a stateside replacement for the Florida National Guard, with guardsmen deployed abroad during World War II. It disbanded in 1947 after the Florida Army National Guard was released from Federal Active Duty. Governor Ron DeSantis relaunched the Florida State Guard in 2022 to respond to manmade and natural disasters throughout the state. The State Guard is state-funded and cannot be called into federal service like the Florida National Guard, which potentially leaves Florida understaffed during emergencies.
