The North Carolina National Guard will soon have new headquarters and that means more than 4,000 construction jobs for the Triangle area.

The new facility will house the National Guard and offices for the State Division of Emergency Management, Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation.

The price tag is about $56 million, with $41.5 million of that in federal funds.

The new facility will be located behind the current National Guard headquarters off Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.

National Guard spokesman Major Matt Handley says there are two major benefits to citizens when it comes to this project; first the project is beginning ahead of schedule, and second is that placing multiple agencies under one roof will help in responding to emergencies.

"The taxpayers will save some money by getting it in now as opposed to three years from now, and this increase capability of our state agencies from Emergency Management to the National Guard to Highway Patrol all working together," said Handley.

The project will be open to bids next week and work is expected to start early this summer.

It will take about two years to complete.

Gov. Bev Perdue announced the plan for the new facility Wednesday. 

According to a press release, securing money for this project was a top priority for Gov. Perdue, who personally discussed it with President Barack Obama and with North Carolina's congressional delegation.

Fourth Congressional District Rep. David Price was instrumental in boosting the funding for the Army National Guard account in the federal recovery legislation. Congressman Price also included language urging the National Guard to accelerate construction of the critical facility in reports accompanying the 2004, 2005, and 2007 Military Construction Appropriations bills.

 Statement from Price.

Today's announcement comes at the end of a long and sometimes difficult process. As the highest priority new construction project in the country for the National Guard, the Joint Force Headquarters is undisputedly deserving of this significant funding. The recovery package was designed to create jobs, and it is encouraging to see such a direct and significant job impact here in North Carolina and the Triangle. I thank Gov. Perdue and other members of our congressional delegation for their work and focus in bringing this important project to North Carolina.