The Williamsport addition will contain an expanded emergency department, surgical suites and single-occupancy patient rooms, according to Tracie Witter, Susquehanna's director of marketing. She tells GlobeSt.com the groundbreaking is scheduled for summer 2009.

The expansion and renovation of the cancer center at Divine Providence Hospital, which is also located here, began today. The project also calls for facility upgrades, including a new family visitation area as part of the skilled nursing unit at Muncy Valley Hospital in Muncy, which is located in the eastern portion of Lycoming County.

The state's Department of Community and Economic Development has approved a grant of $12.3 million for the overall project. The funding comes from the department's Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program. It will provide $625,000 each year for 20 years to the Lycoming County Industrial Development Authority for debt service on behalf of Susquehanna.