Hamilton County officials on Monday celebrated the start of construction on a new Public Safety Training Center, a facility designed to serve first responders from across the county and reduce the need to travel elsewhere for specialized training.

The 60-acre campus, located near 161st Street and River Road in Noblesville, will include more than 20,000 square feet of classroom and tactical space, a five-story fire training tower, outdoor firing range, and dedicated space for SWAT and defensive tactics training.

Chad Knecht, executive director of Hamilton County Emergency Operations, encouraged first responders to fully utilize the new complex once it opens.

“I challenge every firefighter, police officer, and public safety person in this county to make the best of this state-of-the-art facility,” Knecht said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “Never rest on your laurels. The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in the combat of public safety.”

Hundreds of local officials and first responders from communities across Hamilton County attended the event.

County Commissioner President Steve Dillinger praised the project’s long-awaited progress.

“The training they’ll get out here will have long lasting effects on Hamilton County,” Dillinger said. “We are so excited because we’ve been working on this project for 15 years. Government works slow, but we’re here now and we’re very happy about it.”

The $32 million project will be funded through county-issued bonds and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. Once operational, the training center will serve as a regional hub for joint exercises, advanced certifications, and coordination among police, fire, and emergency response agencies.