FiRST Center: First Responder Skills Training Center
A regional public safety training facility does not currently exist for use by public safety personnel in the south metro area and adjacent cities and counties. A regional training facility will help ensure our safety personnel have the highest degree of training possible to serve the public. The Minnesota Legislature has clearly stated that public safety personnel need to be better trained and equipped to respond to the growing demands placed on them. Public safety personnel often use local businesses, schools and vacant facilities as temporary training sites since there is not a permanent site that fits all the training and classroom needs. A permanent, dedicated site within Dakota County, available to all jurisdictions within the south metro and Greater Minnesota area, will improve the ability to consistently and routinely train public safety employees, as well as maintain certifications.
Construction of the FiRST Center began in early 2025 and will be located at the former Public Works site within the Airlake Industrial Park at 7777 214th Street West. This 40,000-square-foot facility will include the following features:
Physical training area for fire, police and EMS
Virtual training area
Firing range training area with vehicle access
Equipment cleaning and armory area
Tactical training room with movable partitions for fire, police and EMS
Classroom/meeting space for fire, police and EMS
Office space
Restrooms/lockers
Exterior training spaces
The overall cost of the project is $25.8 million. Funding of $7.1 million was awarded to this project through the 2023 Minnesota Legislature capital investment (cash funding) bill and an additional $800,000 was awarded in 2024 through Federal Congressionally Directed Funding. The remaining cost of construction will be obtained through general obligation bonds. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
Operational costs to maintain and operate the facility will be provided through membership fees paid by the various agencies that will be using the facility.
