News Photo by Temi Fadayomi U.S. Sen. Gary Peters speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hangar at the Alpena Combat Readiness Center on Friday.

ALPENA — On Friday, the Alpena Combat and Readiness Center and Michigan National Guard officials along with state-elected leadership held a groundbreaking ceremony for CRTC’s new hangar.

“You’re very lucky to have a facility like this,” U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said to those in attendance. “You should take great pride in the women who serve here each and every day.”

The new hangar is 20,000 square feet with the capabilities to accommodate various aircraft, including fifth-generation aircraft, as well as approximately 4,000 square feet of multipurpose shops.

The hanger is expected to engage over 20 subcontractors and suppliers, and employ between 250 to 300 construction workers during its execution. The total investment for the hangar is $23 million, which was secured by Peters through his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Peters along with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Air Force Col. James Rossi, commander of the Alpena CRTC all spoke as well as other local and state officials such as State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and Alpena Mayor Matt Waligora.

Each speaker thanked those involved in making the project possible, and also thanked the Alpena community.

“If you look back over 2022 and 2023, we have invested more than $76 million into this facility and more importantly into this community,” Rogers said. “That speaks volumes about how valuable the relationship is and how important our community relations are. This community and the surrounding counties have just been amazing partners.”

The hangar is set to be completed by Sept. 2025.

“It’s really a privilege and an honor to be back here,” Peters said. “It’s just a matter of time before this facility is up and running, and I can continue to see a bright future for this facility and for Alpena.”