The City of Lakeville broke ground March 17 on a new First Responder Skills Training Center, a regional facility funded through nearly $8 million in state funding and federal support.

The facility will serve both police and fire departments across the region, addressing anticipated staffing challenges including the expected retirement of 20% of police officers in coming years. Mayor Luke Haeler said the center reinforces the city's commitment to public safety as its top priority.

"The future for public safety is going to require cities and counties working together when we think about making sure we have staffing that are correct and we've got all the training levels that are needed," Haeler said during the ceremony.

State Senator Zack Duckworth, who helped secure the state funding two years ago, emphasized Lakeville's culture of public service. Several area fire departments are transitioning from paid-on-call to hybrid or full-time operations, making regional training partnerships increasingly important.

Construction will begin with demolition of the existing facility this week, with RJM Construction leading the project. The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for March 17, 2026. Congresswoman Angie Craig noted that $7 million in additional federal funding was excluded from recent congressional appropriations but will be pursued in the next funding cycle.