TITTABAWASSEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A $48 million terminal expansion project is underway at Freeland’s MBS International Airport.

The construction is expected to bring in about 250 jobs to Mid-Michigan.

The new terminal mean an upgrade to the Tri-Cities airport and as the latest numbers on county-by-county jobless rates are released, the new jobs are welcome news.

Rates were up in all 83 Michigan counties.

Saginaw County is at 14.5 percent, Genesee County at 17.6 percent, with Bay and Midland counties at 13.3 and 10.6 percent respectively.

Ground was broken at 4 p.m. Thursday, with U.S. Rep. Dave Camp in attendance.

"This is an example of a shovel-ready project that will put people to work immediately in construction jobs, and create new long-term job growth for the region by attracting new businesses," Camp said. "With unemployment at 15 percent, this is great news for Michigan and the area."

“The project really sets the foundation for the airport to be around -- and be a strong part of the community -- for the next several decades,” said MBS Airport manager Jeff Nagel.

Camp worked with the FAA to get the project funded and underway.

In 2007, he requested and Congress approved $1.34 million to MBS for the project in the 2008 transportation spending bill, part of that year's omnibus spending bill.

The 75,000 square-foot project is expected to be completed by 2013.