The U.S. Department of Agriculture is celebrating 60 years of its rural housing program, and now they're commemorating the first group home they've ever funded.

State Senator Norm Wallman dug in his shovel along with several other state and community leaders for the ground breaking of the new group home to be built at 16th and Bell Streets in Beatrice.

The complex will be called Bell Street Apartments and will feature five duplexes with 10 units of subsidized living for those with mental health issues.

USDA Rural Development came up with more than half of the funds for the $1,040,615 project, bringing in $562,223. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development brought $304,392, Federal Home Loan Bank provided $69,000, and Region V Systems supplied $105,000.

Blue Valley Mental Health and Region V Systems will provide direct support services for the tenants.

The project is expected to take nine months to complete, and residents should be able to move-in starting October 2010.

Vantage Point Homes is the builder on the project, which they say will provide jobs for about 75 local construction workers through the winter.