VERONA, Wis. -- Ground was officially broken on Monday for a new county health care project that is projected to create 200 jobs in the Madison area.

The gold shovels were out in Verona as a dozen honored guests broke ground for the new Badger Prairie Health Care Center.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk credits several aggressive, ambitious goals to get the project started.

"The first one is to be able to provide the best care we can for 120 citizens of Dane county who need and deserve high quality health care," she said.

Officials said that the center is expected to open in late 2010, and will be a "green" project, including geothermal heating and cooling system and a solar hot water system.