ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- A joint effort by base and government officials has secured funds for a $21 million software support facility.

The 80,000 square-foot work center will help the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center continue to provide software that aids the warfighter.

"This was a great team effort, and I am very pleased that Congress has agreed to provide this funding to meet a critical need at Robins," said Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "We know this is important to the personnel at the base and we should break ground on this project as soon as possible."

Rep. Jim Marshall, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the house Air Force Caucus, said he was proud to have been able to help Robins get this important funding.

"I look forward to seeing Robins become more than the electronic warfare center of excellence for the Air Force," he said. "I hope to see Robins become the electronic warfare center of excellence for all military branches."

"It's a great day when the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center receives Air Force and Congressional support for facilities," added Maj. Gen. Tom Owen, WR-ALC commander. "The funding of this software facility will help our productivity and put us in a position to take on new software workload like the F-22 Raptor, providing even better support to the warfighter."

The bidding process begins this fall and the contract is expected to be awarded by the end of fiscal 2008. The 402nd Maintenance Wing and the 402nd Software Maintenance Group are hoping to break ground on the state-of-the-art facility in the spring of 2008. The building will connect three existing software facilities, creating one continuous software support area.

Some of the systems the 402nd SMXG currently supports include special operations, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System and F-15 avionics. Officials say the new software facility likely will add the C-17 Globemaster III, F-22 Raptor avionics, Predator and Global Hawk among the systems it supports.

Dave Smith, operations officer for the 580th Software Maintenance Squadron, said he is looking forward to having more space to spread out and create new work areas for personnel and equipment.

"We are having big space problems in this building -- everyone from the lowest level all the way to the supervisors," Mr. Smith said.

Col. Mark Atkinson, commander of the 402nd Maintenance Wing, added that the new facility is also expected to create new jobs in the future within the software group.