Who Wants a Mercenary Army Training Camp in Louisa County?

Firm Wants to Build Military Training Facility in Louisa

By Christina Mora, NBC 29

A private military training firm has its eyes on 1,000 acres of Louisa County land. The group wants to build a training center equipped with firing ranges, driving courses, and shooting houses.

It could boost the county’s economy, but there are still a lot of hurdles to jump. The Cincinnati-based O’Gara Group currently has a training facility in Danville, but they want to expand it. That’s where Louisa comes in.

Firm officials say the acreage on Route 22 between Route 623 and Route 625 would be the perfect place for a training facility. The center would provide training for law enforcement, military personnel, bomb squads, and first responders. It would also house ammunition and weapons.

Plans are still in the preliminary stages. The company is meeting with neighbors to get their take. It also hopes present the plans to the Louisa County Board of Supervisors in the near future. And while the group says the expansion could boost the economy in the area, it still has a lot of convincing to do.

"I think there’s other ways of bringing in jobs to the community," said Lolita Shelton, a neighbor to the site.

"We have to make sure it’s something that meshes with our community, if it’s what we want," said Louisa County Supervisor Fitzgerald Barnes.

The land is currently zoned for a future rail park. If the training facility moves in, the rail park would be put on hold indefinitely.

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