Reinvestments at Fort Polk continue to improve on-post housing, enhance quality of life
Published 4:34 pm Thursday, April 27, 2023
Special to the News Leader
With quality of life as a top priority for Fort Polk leadership, Corvias — a solutions provider to the Department of Defense — continues its commitment to operate, maintain and provide service to the more than 4,800 residents of on-base housing at Fort Polk.
In 2021, Corvias announced a commitment to perform more than $92 million worth of housing upgrades to Fort Polk by 2024. As part of that commitment, today the company, along with its Army partner, celebrated the delivery of 22 newly renovated homes during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Berkley Court.
Guests at the event included Brig. Gen. Gardner; Command Sgt. Major Devereaux; Col. Vaseliades; Staff Sgt. Brody Gragg; and Corvias leaders Pete Sims, DoD managing director, and Kirk Green, operations director. After sharing a few words, attendees were able to walk through the home to see upgrades and details firsthand. Local residents also stopped by the event to connect with other guests and enjoy refreshments.
“As a long-term Army partner, we are fully invested in providing quality homes for our military families. After a long trip from Alaska, we welcome Staff Sgt. Brody Gragg and his family not only to Fort Polk, but also to a house that they can be proud to call home,” Sims said.
From new countertops, cabinets, flooring, appliances, light fixtures, windows and doors on the interior to exterior upgrades like new roofs, porches and walkways, these homes received a variety of extensive renovations. Both the interiors and exteriors received a fresh coat of paint, as well. Geothermal heating and cooling pump upgrades will also significantly reduce the community’s carbon footprint. Additional road and driveway improvements, as well as modifications to allow for better drainage, strengthened the community’s infrastructure.
Corvias’ future Fort Polk improvements include playground updates, and both medium and major home renovations and a 13MW ground-mount solar project. This work is part of both short- and long-term capital improvement plans, as well as through partnership savings created by utilities and water efficiency programs that reduce expenses and fund additional improvements.