JENNINGS — The Jennings City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a resolution in support of a proposed $7.5 million state veterans cemetery to be built near the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home.

“I think this project is going to be a humongous asset to the veterans, the city of Jennings, the parish and the state,” Mayor Henry Guinn said of the proposed project.

“Having a state veterans cemetery locally would mean an influx of federal dollars coming into the city, as well as bringing a lot of vehicles and foot traffic to Jennings, which will help our economy, so it’s an A-plus all around for everyone.”

Plans for the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery are still in the design stage, but the first phase of the project could be let for bid this summer, Guinn said.

The cemetery would be built on a 22-acre site just northeast of the veterans home off La. 97 in Jennings.

The cemetery, which will also include an administration office, maintenance facility and detention pond, would be connected to the veterans home by a driveway and would be visible from Interstate 10.

The first phase of the project calls for 1,777 burial sites. Future expansions would increase the burial sites to a total of 17,046.

The cemetery would create six to seven permanent jobs, including horticulturists positions and machine operators.

State veterans cemeteries are also located in Leesville, Keithville, Rayville and Slidell.