GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General Corp. has announced plans to build a new distribution center in Longview, Texas, which a company spokeswoman says will create around 400 jobs and serve some 1,000 Dollar General stores in Texas and the southeast. Construction on the state-of-the-art one-million-square-foot facility is expected to begin in early 2018.

“Dollar General is excited to expand our supply chain and distribution operations in the Lone Star State with today’s announcement,” notes chief executives officer Todd Vasos. “This facility is expected to support Dollar General’s growing store count in Texas, where we already operate more than 1,400 locations and have complementary operations in San Antonio. We look forward to the facility helping better serve our customers with value and convenience, as well as creating career opportunities for approximately 400 future Dollar General employees.

“I would like to express my gratitude for our partnership with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, leadership in both Gregg County and the city of Longview, and the Longview Economic Development Corporation, all of whom helped support this project.”

The Longview facility will be the company’s 17th in its distribution network and second in Texas. In 2014, Dollar General announced plans to build its first Texas distribution center in San Antonio. Located in Bexar County, that facility celebrated its grand opening in 2016.

Along with the 400 permanent jobs the new facility will create, the hundreds of jobs needed for its construction are expected to provide an economic boost as well.