WATERLOO -- The Cedar Valley's given a lot to the Iowa National Guard lately. Now the Guard's giving back to the Cedar Valley.

One day after a Waterloo-headquartered National Guard infantry battalion returned from Iraq, Guard officials announced the commencement of construction of an $11.4 million renovation and expansion of its helicopter aviation support facility and readiness center at 2245 W. Big Rock Road, northeast of the Waterloo Regional Airport.

The project, to be completed in 18 months to two years, will mean more equipment, and more soldiers training out of Waterloo, Iowa Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood said.

The facility previously had capacity for 180 soldiers and that maximum will be increased to 270 upon completion. Currently about 240 soldiers train out of the Big Rock Road facility, Guard officials said.

Construction began this month, said Lt. Col. Matt Salmon of Janesville, aviation support facility coordinator for the Big Rock Road facility. Larson Construction of Independence is the project contractor.

It is the most significant work at the site since the existing 49,000-square-foot facility was built in 1973, Hapgood has said. It houses both the aviation support facility and armory, or readiness center.

The project will nearly double the total facility in size. It involves two projects.

One is a 10,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of the readiness center for more classroom, office and storage space and supply area.

"Its' going to be a real big plus for them to have indoor storage, locker rooms, very nice shower facilities. We're going to have a nice workout room for them," Salmon said.

The project will include a modernized Iowa Communication Network classroom.

The other work involves a 28,000-square-foot expansion of the 37,000-square-foot aviation support facility, for more hangar and shop areas as well as a small office addition.

The expansion is the result of a shift in focus for the Waterloo operation from air cavalry assault to air ambulance services, as well as surveillance security and a distribution company which transports fuel, supplies and ammunition.

"The unit actually changed its mission about two years ago," Salmon said. "It went from aviation cavalry or air cavalry, which would have been attack helicopters, to med-evac which is a very radical change. When they go to a combat theater their only job is to be a 24-hour standby for combat casualties. They're the first line of defense, like your air ambulances around here."

The kinds of helicopters being used require more space for storage and maintenance of the craft, he said, creating the need for the expansion.

The Big Rock Road facility previously housed the 1st Battalion 113th Cavalry Squadron, which was closed out about a year ago and its members transferred into new or other units. The facility is now home to Detachment 1, C Company, 2nd Battalion 211th Air Ambulance; Detachment 1, A Company, 1st Battalion 134th Surveillance Security; and A Company of the 248th Distribution Company, which transports fuel, supplies and ammunition. Soldiers training at the facility come from within about a 100-mile radius.

The 2/211th Air Ambulance has been alerted that it may be mobilized sometime in mid-2008 for active duty in "one of the major theaters" of operations, Salmon said. About 60 soldiers may be affected.

"They're training. They're getting ready," he said. "We've gone through a lot of flight hours, a lot of effort."

The Big Rock Road facility is the second local Guard installation to be upgraded recently. Last year, the 52-year-old Iowa Army National Guard armory at 3106 Airport Blvd. near the Waterloo Municipal Airport has received a $3.3 million renovation and expansion. It includes a 17,000-square-foot addition that changed its main entrance, and the renovation of another 18,000 square feet of existing space.

The facility also received an updated mechanical system, new electric service, high-efficiency windows, vinyl, carpet and ceramic floor tile.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com