(AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday backed nearly $14 million in state construction spending to build a new automobile technology training center at Baton Rouge Community College.

The center will educate students seeking careers in the auto industry, part of a local community effort to bolster skills training in the region.

The governor said he’ll ask the Bond Commission to support the funding through the state’s construction budget, the final step to pay for the project. Jindal’s allies make up a majority of the commission, so the multi-year funding is expected to get approval.

“This new facility will better prepare our future auto technicians so they can find jobs here in Louisiana, which helps our economy grow and keeps our children here at home,” Jindal said at the community college, surrounded by local leaders.

Construction on the training center is expected to begin in 2014, with completion a year later.

Jindal said the project is a partnership with the Louisiana Auto Dealers Association and The All Star Automotive Group to help fill jobs in the area.

A recent study cited by the governor said there are more than 2,700 open auto mechanic and technician jobs available in Louisiana, a number projected to grow by 17 percent by 2020.