Gov. Linda Lingle has released nearly $6.45 million in state funding for the first phase of the Keaukaha Joint Military Center on the Big Island. The money will be used with $50.5 million in federal money to finance the project.

The new center will consolidate the Hawai'i Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units now stationed at Honoka'a, Kea'au and at Keaukaha near the Hilo airport, and also will house the Hawai'i Office of Veteran Services.

The project involves demolishing old buildings at the Keaukaha Military Reservation and building a new complex that will include an assembly hall, classrooms, training device and simulation center and offices.

Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010.