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CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- Centerville leaders broke ground Tuesday on a great-big new store. The groundbreaking ceremony was for a new Walmart Supercenter on Highway 5, just south of Centerville.

The new store has been in the works for the past 5 years. Centerville’s current Walmart is smaller, and has been there for the past 20 years. The new store will be eco-friendly, with l-e-d lights and food composite collection for recycling. Officials with the company believe that 50 new jobs will be added to the payroll to accommodate the larger facility.

Appanoose Economic Development Executive Director Tod Faris told KTVO Tuesday afternoon that the new store is a win-win for everyone.

“Appanoose County has really become the regional shopping hub. Folks come from northern Missouri and other counties in southern Iowa come here. So, having this location is going to attract more people to come shop in this Walmart, but also go to our other stores and restaurants,” said Faris.

The land where the new facility will be built used to be a coal mine, so construction will begin with concrete being poured underground to fill the former mine. Centerville’s new Walmart Supercenter is expected to be completed and open for business in April 2012.