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Project Title: Construct Headquarters Visitor Building (FFS #R3AF)
State: Wisconsin
Project Description: The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge’s La Crosse District in Wisconsin will receive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to construct an office for its staff. The construction of this new facility will help eliminate expensive lease costs at an off-site location and provide an adequate base of operations for staff and volunteers, while creating a welcoming atmosphere for members of the public.
The facility will include offices, restrooms, a break room, and a conference room for office staff. The building also includes visitor contact facilities that consist of a multi-purpose room, lobby with exhibit space, reception area, and public restrooms. The facility location will also become a trailhead to provide public access to a restored prairie and other refuge lands.
The new facility will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and provide energy costs savings, while providing a modern and accessible visitor facility for the American public. Constructing the facility will provide better customer service to the public, increased environmental education opportunities, and reduce the Service’s leased space costs. In addition to the office facility, these funds will also be used to construct a maintenance shop, equipment storage facility and all needed infrastructure. This project was identified in the refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan.
For additional information about the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge La Crosse District, visit the Upper Mississippi River Refuge website.
Photos:
 (from left) Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank; Jack Waide, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Mike Jawson, USGS; Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle; Jim Nissen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS); Don Hultman; FWS, La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter; and Congressman Ron Kind, listen as Leon Carl, USGS speaks to guests at a May 28 ceremony |
 The group listens as Congressman Ron Kind speaks at the May 28 ceremony, which was held to celebrate the construction of a new headquarters facility for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge - La Crosse District. The project will be funded by $6.1 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 |
 Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle addresses guests at the May 28 ceremony |
 U.S. Representative Ron Kind addresses the crowd at the ceremony |
Originally posted 08/10/2009
Updated 08/31/2009
