KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Construction crews are wrapping up work in Kannapolis, as opening day closes in at the North Carolina Research Campus. City leaders toured the area on Monday afternoon.

The campus is estimated to bring in 5,000 jobs and nearly 40,000 to the region.

"Some of the greatest minds in the world will be standing in front of those lab spaces, actually doing science that's going to change the world,” said City Manager Mike Legg. “All this planning and all this hard work that everyone's been putting toward this project for a couple of years is finally coming to fruition. It's actual tangible things that you can touch and feel."

Although construction still sprawls most of the research campus, the first openings are close. In September, UNC Chapel Hill’s nutrition institute is expected to open. The core laboratory and N.C. State’s science institute are then expected to open in October.

"The most important stage of all of this is occuring now,” said Legg. “Builds open, people get hired, the research starts. That's way more exciting in my mind, even though it doesn't get as much fanfare as groundbreakings and those kinds of things."

Inside the buildings, crews are finalizing last details like the outside landscaping, the core lab’s fruits and vegetables mural and the office space for founder David Murdock. It all symbolizes a new view and vision for the former mill community.

"We've got bigger picture issues we've got to deal with,” said Legg. “Our long education needs to support the campus, supporting our small businesses and entrepreneurs, things like that that aren't going to happen overnight and take a lot of hard work so we can continue to fill the buildings with smart people.”

Kannapolis city officials are close to approving the first step of tax increment financing bonds, which will help cover the costs of new streets, sidewalks and parks. Groundbreaking for the campus was held in February 2006. Leaders believe one day, as many as 100 buildings could be included on the 350-acre campus.