Kentucky National Guard members will soon have a new regional base of operations in London, with the construction of a Joint Readiness Center.

Kentucky National Guard members came together as the ribbon was cut on phase one of a new Joint Readiness Center.

“The more modern facilities that we have situated around Kentucky, the better we're able to respond on a moments notice to meet the needs of the citizens of the commonwealth,” said Major General Edward Tonini, Adjutant General of Kentucky.

He says members currently work out of a nearby civil air patrol building and the new multi-million dollar facility is welcomed.

“The twenty years that we've been here, working pretty much working out of a little block building over there, so this represents a quantum leap forward,” he said.

He says phase two of the project will include a community drug education center and phase three includes new hangers to house aircraft that will allow the guard to be more efficient in its drug eradication efforts; that is why U.S. Congressmen Hal Rogers says he was happy to help secure federal funding.

“So it's a great complex, and a great new facility for us to use to use in the war against drugs,” said Representative Rogers.

Guard members say most importantly, it will provide a place to train future guard members.

“Now we've got a facility where we can train and that's been another big issue, just a classroom, a place where you can assemble. To have that capability is great,” said Lt. Col. Carlas Owens.

Guard officials say they expect all three phases of the project to be complete by 2010.