Operations facility planned at Camp Williams near Tomah

The Wisconsin National Guard plans to build an $8 million operations facility near Tomah for unmanned aircraft, also known as predator drones, used largely in U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The state has contributed $177,460 to the project for planning and design of the site at Camp Williams.

Bids to build a 10,298-square-foot operations building will be let in the fall of 2011. Also included in the project are paving for aircraft, runway and parking pads, ground support equipment, lighting, fire protection and fencing, a military spokesman said.

The remaining financing is from the federal government.