LEWISTON – Local and state officials on Thursday welcomed Wal-Mart’s decision to build a $45 million distribution center in the area.

The City Council last week approved a multimillion-dollar package of tax breaks and other incentives to attract the retail giant.

“I like it, frankly, that one of the smartest companies in the world has decided to make a $45 million investment in Lewiston, Maine,” Gov. Angus King said during a news conference announcing the closing of the deal.

The 480,000-square-foot distribution center on the Alfred Plourde Parkway near Exit 13 of the Maine Turnpike will serve Wal-Mart stores in New England. The center is expected to create 350 jobs over three years. The jobs will pay wages of $12 to $15 an hour.

Under the deal, Wal-Mart would get nearly $10 million in tax breaks and utility work from the city.

The state is offering $4.7 million in equipment tax reimbursements and $1.86 million in tax-based incentives. The state also will pay $1.5 million for road improvements and up to $360,000 in training incentives.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2003. The center is expected to open in 2004.