"Blackwater to Add Ill. Training Facility"
© 2006 The Associated Press

MOYOCK, N.C. — Military contractor Blackwater USA, which provides security and training for the military and law enforcement officers, plans to open a center in northwestern Illinois, company officials said Monday.

The Blackwater North facility in Mount Carroll, Ill., will be refurbished and outfitted similarly to the 7,000-acre Blackwater Training Center in northeastern North Carolina. The 80-acre Illinois center already has a tower for climbing and rappelling as well as several firing ranges.

"Blackwater North now gives another option to law enforcement and military professionals in the Midwest and surrounding regions that can reduce total training cost," said Jim Sierawski, Blackwater's vice president for training.

A variety of courses will start in March at Blackwater North, which is located about 140 miles west of Chicago.

Earlier this year, the private company announced plans to open a compound in southern California and start a 25-acre jungle survival skills training center in the Philippines.

Blackwater has federal contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to provide security and training in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.