Construction is underway on the Veterans Administration outpatient clinic at 1200 W. Main St., Tomball, with a planned opening set for May 2013.

The 42,000 square foot facility, formerly the Klein Grocery Store, will be used to provide primary and mental health care, women's specialty care as well as optometry and audiology services. It will also feature an on-site pharmacy.

"The opening of the VA Clinic in Tomball will be extremely beneficial to our city and area community both socially and economically," said Bruce Hillegeist, president of the Tomball Chamber of Commerce. "It will allow our veterans to receive quality, compassionate and convenient care near home so that travel to inner parts of Houston becomes unnecessary."

The VA signed a 20-year lease commitment for the property, which was executed in September 2011. The full deal includes roughly 67,269 square feet of property and three retail buildings on site that will be partially occupied, according to Tom Condon Jr., senior vice president of Betz Commercial Brokerage, the firm representing the sellers in the transaction. Construction is planned to be completed by January, at which point the VA will begin a series of inspections and installing equipment.

The site's impact will extend beyond helping veterans in the community, Hillegeist said.

"As far as Tomball businesses are concerned, it no doubt will be a boon," he said. "Visitors to the VA Clinic will find Tomball itself hospitable and our hotels, restaurants and shopping venues are sure to benefit."