(KAIR)--Ground was broken Wednesday afternoon on a major expansion project at Amberwell Atchison that will bring additional health care services to the community.

The ceremonial groundbreaking was held for a 31,721-square-foot West Addition, which will house Amberwell Cancer Care, expanded rehabilitation services and additional specialty clinic space.

The project is designed to provide patients with greater access to specialized medical care closer to home, with construction expected to be completed in early 2028.

Among those taking part in Wednesday's groundbreaking were Congressman Derek Schmidt, Kansas Representative Allen Reavis, Atchison Mayor La Rochelle Young, and representatives of Amberwell Atchison, the Amberwell Health Foundation, Atchison County, the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce and Mosaic Life Care.

The expansion marks another chapter in Atchison's more than century-long history of hospital care, including the hospital's move from Second Street to its current location on Raven Hill Drive in 2010.

Fundraising for the project continues through Amberwell's Building Hope campaign, which includes opportunities for donors to contribute through naming opportunities and other gifts.