First responders in Hernando County will have their own training facility thanks in part to a 60-acre property donation by Cemex.
The donated property is located on Citrus Way, just south of Peach Orchard Road.
The training hub will consolidate training programs. Currently, first responders train at multiple sites depending on the type of training.
“We are proud to contribute to the safety and well-being of Hernando County,” said Jeff Bobolts, Cemex Regional President – East Region. “By providing this land, we are not only investing in the infrastructure of the community but also in the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe.”
“Public safety is our utmost priority,” stated Hernando County Fire Rescue’s Director of Public Safety and Fire Chief Paul Hasenmeier. “This joint effort will allow for collaboration between multiple agencies to bring forth the best level of services for our community. We are very thankful for the donation from Cemex as this opportunity will allow us to move forward with plans to build a new Emergency Operations Center, fire training facility, a logistics warehouse, and much more.”
The plan is for the proposed training facility to be utilized by local and regional law enforcement agencies and first responders for tactical, classroom training or joint interagency training and public outreach.
According to Dominique Holmes, Hernando County Public Information Officer, the county is in the process of rezoning the property and designing the public safety training center. They are also considering funding sources, including the potential new sales tax on the November Ballot, Fire Assessment, Property Taxes, and Grants. The current cost is $50 million, but may still change. They are in the first phase of infrastructure which is estimated to cost around $8 million.
