HURLBURT FIELD - Hurlburt is doing its part to stimulate the local economy.

Construction of a new military hotel and club facilities is under way and a new Joint Operational Planning Facility (JOPF) will soon follow.

"It's a project that almost never happened. Now it's become a reality," said John K. Carruth, deputy base civil engineer with Hurlburt's 1st Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron (1SOCES).

Localizing the project is actually what saved it.

"The best prices are always with local contractors," Carruth said.

On any given day, 80 to 100 people are involved in the construction project.

The work is a joint venture between Destin-based Yates Construction and Whitesell-Green Construction out of Pensacola.

Most of the workers come from Okaloosa County and surrounding areas, including Pensacola and Panama City.

The Air Force Center for Engineering and Environment was told by contractors the project could not be done for the $30 million budget.

Hurlburt's Contracts Office and Civil Engineering requested permission to take over the process and bid it to local companies.

The bids came back under budget and the project will cost an estimated $28 million.

All of the construction is outside the gates of Hurlburt Field on the sound side of Miracle Strip Parkway. Once the entire project is complete in December 2010, the area will be gated. For now, progress on the project, which broke ground in October, is visible from the road.

The club facilities will be completed by February 2010. Designed to accommodate 500 people, the new facility will include three ballrooms, a kitchen, outdoor deck and bar with lounge in 20,610 square feet.

The space will be available for banquets and receptions.

The facility's daily operations have not been determined.

"We're all hoping we can come here for lunch," Caruth laughed.

The project was deemed necessary because of the condition of the 1960s-era building it will replace.

"We have a rule: to completely repair it, we can't spend more than 60 percent of the cost to replace it," said Keith Cutshaw, chief of the programs flight at 1SOCES. "The cost to repair the clubhouse would have been 70 percent."

With only about 33 acres of undeveloped land at Hurlburt, new construction often includes demolition. Once the clubhouse is complete, the current clubhouse will be demolished to make room for the 17,197-square-foot JOPF.

The JOPF will offer a central location for meeting with officers from joint and allied forces.

The two-story hotel, also known as VQ for "Visitor's Quarters," will be completed by spring 2010. The 63,987-square-foot VQ includes 120 rooms, a courtyard and two fitness rooms. It will be open to anyone with DOD identification.

"Even after this VQ is completed, Hurlburt will have a deficit," Carruth said. "There are so many people that come on base with temporary duty and not enough rooms for them all."

Hurlburt's Commando Inn lodging facility offers 123 Visiting Officer Quarters, 91 Visiting Airman Quarters, eight General Officer Quarters and 24 Temporary Lodging Facilities.

Money for the project was supplied by non-appropriated funds and lodging non-appropriated funds from the Air Force Services Agency (AFSVA). Hurlburt also used military construction money approved by Congress for the project.

"Something's always going on at Hurlburt," Carruth said. "Hurlburt has more than doubled its square footage of buildings since the early '90s. The base is enjoying tremendous growth."