<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2TueAT_0v5f7NYQ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TueAT_0v5f7NYQ00" width="654" height="765" ><figcaption>Credit: Utah Army National Guard</figcaption></figure>The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) Board of Directors will review a transformational proposal at its Thursday, Aug. 22, meeting to create a new project area that would significantly assist the Utah National Guard, dedicated to safeguarding lives, property and freedom by enhancing and increasing the quality and capabilities of the guard’s operations.The State Legislature created MIDA in 2007 to facilitate the development of military, as well as private land for military purposes. The MIDA board was first introduced to the idea of creating the Utah Army National Guard Project Area at their June meeting. The potential project area would consist of 27 different properties to serve Utah’s Army National Guard with needed infrastructure projects.The majority of the 27 properties are military properties, owned and held in trust by the Utah State Armory Board, and are under the jurisdiction of the guard. All 27 properties included in the proposed project area plan are tax exempt and have generated $0 annually in tax revenues to date.There is one property located on Camp Williams in Bluffdale that is owned by the federal government and two properties owned by Tooele City Corp. On Aug. 7, the Tooele City Council unanimously approved a resolution in support of an interlocal agreement between MIDA and Tooele formally inviting MIDA into the city and incorporating parcels into the MIDA project area. Tooele said it is pleased to support the Guard’s mission and recognizes the potential to generate tax revenue and create economic benefits for the local community.The proposed project area consists of approximately 24,451.57 acres; 24 of the 27 properties are non-contiguously located throughout the state of Utah.At the June MIDA board meeting, MIDA board member Gary Harter highlighted the uniqueness of MIDA within the entire country to seize on this type of opportunity to serve Utah’s National Guard.MIDA’s deputy director, Ariana Farber, explained that the Guard approached MIDA earlier this year asking for assistance in constructing several capital projects to serve their mission and increase their operational capabilities.The Guard has asked MIDA to assist in several capital projects. MIDA may assist the Guard with creating a new gate and access control point into Camp Williams that would be larger, safer and mitigate traffic delays. The installation’s current access control point is located at the southern end of Redwood Road in Bluffdale and is associated with major traffic and safety concerns (several soldiers have suffered from car accident injuries as a result of its small size and inconspicuous location.)Additionally, the Guard has requested that MIDA facilitate construction for a new hangar and aviation infrastructure on their property in Cedar City. This move will allow the Guard to more effectively disperse aircraft capabilities to remote and rural areas of southern Utah and would result in increased ability to reinforce state efforts to extinguish wildfires and support emergency recovery missions.This project area represents a multi-year effort and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. In addition to several other contemplated projects, the guard said it would also like MIDA’s help in developing an athletic and physical training center at Camp Williams. This facility would accommodate physical fitness training and testing for soldiers and guardsmen. The guard envisions a multi-use and purpose building with the ability to share assets with other services as well as the local community.“Military services nationwide have had to contend with increased budgetary restraints that force our installations to remain outdated and unsupportive of a National Guard service that must maintain a 21st century war-fighting posture,” says Dan Schoenfeld, deputy director for state operations for the guard. “This is why the Utah National Guard is thrilled to announce this partnership with MIDA and the State of Utah. Potential tax revenue generated from properties throughout the state will stay within the state and finance mission-critical projects that will strengthen our soldiers and Guardsmen’s ability to support their missions right here at home. We are excited to see the operational impacts and advantages this partnership will bring.”Additional Aug. 22 agenda items include a request for MIDA board approval of an amendment to the Military Recreation Facility Project Area Plan, Part 8. The amendment formally acknowledges that on June 28, 2024, MIDA and the U.S. Air Force completed the exchange of the 26-acre Red Maple parcel (located in Park City off S.R. 248) for a parcel in the new Deer Valley East Village currently under construction in Wasatch County. This exchange was the result of a Congressional enactment many years ago that transferred the Red Maple parcel to the Air Force to be used or exchanged for a property of equal or higher value that would support a military Morale, Welfare and Recreation hotel intended to replace a military-owned ski chalet that was demolished at Snowbasin for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.In conjunction with its development partner Extell, MIDA identified a new location for the Morale Welfare Recreation hotel in Wasatch County where the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, including 100 rooms set aside for uniformed service members at significantly reduced rates, is expected to open in November.MIDA completed the sale of the Red Maple parcel to Park City Municipal Corp. (PCMC) in July of this year, creating public park and recreation lease opportunities for PCMC. As a result of this sale, the project area is being formally amended to exclude the Red Maple parcel.In addition, MIDA is adding two parcels owned by BLX LLC and BLX Land, LLC, located on the west side of Highway 40.There are additional Aug. 22 agenda items with regard to the newly-created Sundance Project Area where the MIDA board will review the Mountain Veterans Program PID financing of the ADA-accessible Inn at the resort’s base village to serve the Mountain Veterans Program. The MIDA board will review a clean-up item that reduces the VA Hospital footprint for the project area, as well as a name change to the project area to reflect its military mission of Mountain Veterans Program serving wounded veterans and their families.The Aug. 22 public meeting is a hybrid meeting (a combination of in-person and teleconferencing attendees) and will take place at 9 a.m. The public may attend in person at the Senate Building located east of the Utah State Capitol in Room 220, or virtually at us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EGs2Q7hRTu6l_hWvaPvf0A. A recording of the meeting will be available at utah.gov/pmn.</div></body>

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MIDA board will review potential new Utah Army National Guard Project Area

The Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) Board of Directors will review a transformational proposal at its Thursday, Aug. 22, meeting to create a new project area that would significantly assist the Utah National Guard, dedicated to safeguarding lives, property and freedom by enhancing and increasing the quality and capabilities of the guard’s operations.

MIDA board will review potential new Utah Army National Guard Project Area

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