Women's facilities at Grand Ledge Armory receive improvements through state, federal funding

Jared Weber, Lansing State Journal
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GRAND LEDGE — Facility improvements that officials said were long overdue for female service members have been completed at the Michigan Army National Guard Grand Ledge Armory.

Until recently, about 30 women shared two bathroom stalls and three showers. More toilets and showers were added to the facility, as well as lockers and a lactation room for new mothers.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks with Michigan National Guard Maj. Tina Corner, right, during a tour and ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at the Michigan Army National Guard Grand Ledge Armory in Grand Ledge, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. The event highlighted improvements at the armory, including upgraded locker rooms, toilet facilities, and the addition of lactation rooms to better serve Michigan's women soldiers.

Staff Sgt. Chandra Taylor, a new mother, said the lactation room has been a convenient addition.

“There was nowhere for me to pump before. Now, I have a room that I can go into, take my laptop, work, pump,” Taylor said. “I can still provide for my son and I can still do my job as a soldier.”

The Grand Ledge Armory, 10600 W. Eaton Hwy., home to the 238th General Support Aviation Battalion, is the first of 33 facilities statewide to receive the improvements, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which operates the state’s National Guard.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks with Michigan National Guard Maj. Tina Corner, left, during a tour and ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at the Michigan Army National Guard Grand Ledge Armory in Grand Ledge, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, highlighting improvements at the armory. Improvements include upgraded locker rooms, toilet facilities, and the addition of lactation rooms to better serve Michigan's women soldiers.

Next in line to receive the upgrades are Grayling Army Airfield Armory, followed by armories in Albion, Gladstone, Ishpeming, Kalamazoo, Port Huron, Traverse City and Washtenaw County.

About $100 million in funds — $50 million from both state and federal sources — were authorized for the projects. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who toured the facility Monday, said the project was a budget priority. The funding was part of a budget passed by the Republican-led legislature that she signed into law.

Whitmer spoke to service members Monday during the tour.

“Every member of the Guard deserves our gratitude and our support and resources so that they can continue to carry out their mission,” Whitmer said. “I want to just reiterate that I’ll continue to work with anyone who wants to solve problems in the state and support our troops.”

While at the facility, Whitmer bestowed the Legion of Merit to Major Gen. Paul D. Rogers on behalf of President Joe Biden. Rogers received the award for his work as the Guard’s adjutant general since 2019, overseeing COVID-19 vaccination efforts, Midland flood support and responses to civil disturbances and protests.

“Your distinctive service is testament to your character and reflects positively on the whole Michigan National Guard and the U.S. Army, and of course the whole state of Michigan,” Whitmer said.

Contact reporter Jared Weber at 517-582-3937 or jtweber@lsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grand Ledge Armory sees upgrades for women soldiers