Selma’s medical district got a little bigger on Friday.

Dr. Leroy Maxwell and a host of well-wishers broke ground at the new location of Eyemax Vision Center, his new eye care facility at 2401 Medical Center Parkway. The group pushed gold shovels into soft earth as a construction crew began pouring concrete behind them.

“Without any of you, this may not have been possible,” Maxwell said after the groundbreaking.

Maxwell has operated an eye care center for 23 years on Broad Street. His new facility, which is expected to open in November, will be almost three times as big. “It’s nostalgic in our old location, but progress says we’ve got to move on,” Maxwell said.

Claire Twardy, executive director of the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said she was excited about Maxwell’s move. “This is a positive for Selma, that solid businesses are expanding,” Twardy said. “They waited a long time. This has been a dream of theirs to build their own building.”

Several of Maxwell’s well-wishers spoke after digging into the dirt, including County Commissioner Kim Ballard and Mayor James Perkins Jr.

Ballard noted that Maxwell could have a successful business anywhere. “Thank God he chose to stay and invest in Selma,” Ballard said. “I congratulate the Maxwells on their confidence in the community.”

Perkins said he remembered when Maxwell opened his business in the same building Perkins did business in. “I moved out and he grew and now needs more space,” Perkins said. “I’m excited for you. I’m excited for Dallas County. We just want to congratulate you.”

Tom Bolton, owner of Cooper Brothers Construction Company, which is building Maxwell’s office, said he was honored to construct the building. According to Bolton, Maxwell’s project is the sixth his company has built in the past two years within a two square-mile radius. “This is good news for Selma, and it needs to be reported more,” Bolton said.

Maxwell said Eyemax Vision Center was dedicated to providing the best eye care it could. It specializes in vision disorders and eye disease.