Leavenworth has been selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for a patient account center, which will bring 400 well-paying jobs and preserve historic buildings, officials said Friday.

The new center will be part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center Campus, and the jobs are expected to pay on average $65,000 per year, officials said.

The VA Consolidated Patient Account Center for the central Plains region will handle billing, insurance verification, accounts receivable and cash management.

“Leavenworth is the ideal place for this center,” said U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. “Not only will the center find a great home on this historic campus, it brings good-paying jobs and helps to support the local economy during these tough times.”

The center will be housed in buildings listed on the National Historic Register, according to a news release from Roberts’ office.

Earlier this month, the city of Leavenworth approved an agreement with developers to structure a package for the patient account center in several vacant historic buildings on the VA property.

Leavenworth County, Leavenworth County Port Authority and city of Leavenworth have agreed to provide about $1.5 million total in financial incentives for the project.

U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, whose district includes Fort Leavenworth, said, “The work done at this new center will be vital for our veterans and a great economic asset for this community.”

The new project is projected to be operational in 2011.