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Upbeat Groundbreaking Ceremony For New North Philly Wellness Center

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Mayor Nutter, Governor Corbett, and a host of other officials helped break ground today for a new wellness center in North Philadelphia that will bring a host of services to the community.

The neighborhood around 21st Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue is in a part of the city that doesn't attract a lot of new development, so the construction of this state-of-the-art health center, fitness center, senior center, and pharmacy was greeted with a celebration.

"We are celebrating what once seemed impossible as possible," said Sister Mary Scullion, co-founder of Project Home, the driving force behind the Stephen Klein Wellness Center.  She thanked a host of philanthropists and elected officials who helped put together funding for it.

That includes state redevelopment funds, which Governor Corbett has mandated be focused on job creation.  But the governor today said the investment had yielded much more.

"It's in health care, it's in housing, it's in treatment, and helping people get jobs.  It really is that warm feeling even though it's a cold day," the governor said.

The center is expected to open early next year.

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