SAVANNAH — More construction soon will be under way at Fort Stewart with the award of multiple contracts totaling more than $71 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. The contracts fund hospital renovations, two shooting ranges, a training aids center warehouse and various other projects.

“Not only does the work provide the best facilities for our soldiers at Fort Stewart, these new contracts will have an impact on the local economy,” said Col. Jeff Hall, commander of the Savannah district. “The contracts, while won by large companies called ‘primes,’ provide opportunities for local construction workers and suppliers as well.”

Prime contractors can be located anywhere in the country, but they rely on local subcontractors to complete work such as painting, roofing, masonry, concrete work, glass and drywall. Hiring locally makes the prime’s work less costly and more efficient. In most cases, it’s also cheaper to buy supplies locally, which benefits multiple companies in the region.

Sauer Inc. was awarded a $27.7 million contract to build an unmanned aircraft system complex at Fort Stewart. The 129,389-square-foot complex will be used to maintain and repair UAS aircraft, which are piloted remotely. The complex will house all parts, tools, administration and aviation operations, and all support equipment and facilities.

In addition to the UAS complex, McCarthy Building Co. was awarded a $23.1 million contract for renovations and additions to Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart. Under the terms of the contract, McCarthy will build a 65,000 square-foot addition and a 1,000 square-foot alteration to the hospital as well as building information systems. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2012.

Also on the list of upcoming construction is a new 78,537 square-foot company operations facility for the 10th Engineer Battalion. Q.B.S won a $13.2 million contract to construct the facility, which will include a combined administrative area and four readiness areas, one for each of the four companies in the 10th Engineer Battalion.

Additionally, two separate contracts, totaling $8.4 million, were awarded to Trend Construction for a multi-purpose machine gun range and a modified record fire range. The modified record fire range project will upgrade an existing range at Fort Stewart, reducing it from 50 firing positions down to 16, in accordance with Army range standards. The multi-purpose machine gun range will contain enough space for 10 firing positions. Both are scheduled for completion in July 2012.

Enviro Agscience won a $4.8 million contract to build a 33,870 square-foot training aids center.

Each year a portion of the construction dollars are set aside for small businesses. In this fiscal year alone, more than $2.8 million has been awarded to small, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in Savannah and six surrounding counties.

Like all Army construction, these facilities will incorporate environmentally friendly features. These “green” buildings will satisfy Silver rating criteria established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council standards.