Kansas State University and the Kansas Forest Service have announced plans to build a $5 million facility to improve firefighter training and provide space for workforce development programs. The Kansas Rural Fire and Workforce Development Center will be shared by both organizations.

Construction will soon begin on the 13,268-square-foot building, which will include a fire equipment shop, a teaching lab for emergency response and agricultural technology classes, and a multipurpose classroom for workforce training.

The facility will help address space issues faced by the Federal Excess Property Program, which provides fire departments with retrofitted equipment. It will also provide a learning space for K-State faculty to train future teachers and offer continuing education for the state’s agricultural educators.

K-State received a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the project, with support from the Flint Hills Regional Council.