EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- Boeing says that it has picked Everett, Wash., as the site to build wings for its new 777x aircraft.

The company said Tuesday that the wing center will be located north of its Everett factory and sustain thousands of area jobs in the years to come. Construction on the new facility is scheduled to begin later this year.

Boeing reached a union contract extension earlier this year that required the company to make parts for and assemble the 777X composite wings in the Puget Sound region.

The Chicago-based company plans to deliver its first 777x aircraft in 2020.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee says the selection adds certainty that Washington will remain a global leader in aerospace for decades to come.