VIDALIA — Though initial dirt work began two months ago, local and corporate officials gathered in Vidalia Friday to officially being construction of a new riverfront hospital.

When completed, Promise Hospital of the Miss-Lou will be a $16 million, 49,826-square foot, 48-bed hospital with all private rooms located on the Vidalia Riverfront.

The hospital currently has a location at 6818 U.S. 84, near Ferriday.

Promise Hospital Chief Executive Officer Lee Huckaby said he is extremely proud of the dedication demonstrated by everyone involved with the project.

“I cannot begin to describe the excitement this project has generated,” Huckaby said.

The chair and chief executive officer of Promise Healthcare, Inc., Peter Baronoff, said the decision to build in Vidalia came after considering the needs of the hospital.

Promise Healthcare, Inc., owns and operates 14 hospitals in six states.

“We felt we needed to create a hospital that had all of the technological advances,” Baronoff said.

The company is exploring what the Ferriday facility can be used for, Baronoff said.

“In any city we go to we make a very firm commitment to the community,” Baronoff said. “Our commitment to you in this city is to provide a great health care facility.”

The company was eager to make to the move, Baronoff said.

“In fact, we were so eager we already began construction,” he said.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said after he found out about the project, there was a point when he was calling Huckaby every week for updates.

“Today is a day of reality, a day we are proud of in Vidalia,” Copeland said.

The expanded facility is expected to employ approximately 150 people.

The hospital will be a long-term acute care facility for patients who need long-term care extending beyond a traditional hospital visit.