The two legislative leaders signed a resolution supporting the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program, which helps smooth the friction between employers and employees when workers are deployed.

RALEIGH, N.C. — A new headquarters for the North Carolina National Guard is being built in Raleigh, bringing jobs and additional security to the area.

Gov. Beverly Perdue held a groundbreaking for the $52 million building, which is behind the current State Highway Patrol Communication Center on District Drive.

The headquarters will employ more than 4,000 people. It will also house the North Carolina Emergency Management’s Operation Center, among other agencies. The groups include the Highway Patrol Communications Center, Department of Transportation Operations Center and the Turnpike Authority.

“There are construction crews all over the Triangle not working because people aren’t building and we’ll put those folks to work. A lot of these jobs will go to people with construction and construction management skills,” Perdue said.

The 237,000-square-foot facility will provide jobs ranging from plumbing to security.

The other agencies being located to the building are the Highway Patrol Communications Center, Department of Transportation Operations Center and the Turnpike Authority.