The Edmundite Missions held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday on a planned $3.1 million community center, which will be located where its administrative offices currently reside on Broad Street in Selma.

The facility will be called the Dr. and Mrs. Michael Bullock Community. The Edmundite Missions’ administrative offices will be moved to a smaller space in order to make a “sacrifice for the community,” according to Communications Manager Adam Dodson.

The new administrative offices will be located at 1002 Minter Ave., the site of the former St. Edmund’s Learning Center.

According to a press release, the center is slated to open its doors in 2020 and will feature a multi-functional gym with a full-size basketball court and a state of the art weight room, locker rooms and educational space for programs aimed at people of all ages throughout the community.

“A facility like this would be a blessing to any community,” said Chad McEachern, President and CEO of Edmundite Missions in Selma. “But here in the Deep South, where our kids have precious little in the way of resources or opportunities, it’s just going to bring miraculous changes to so many young lives.”

“This really is a special day,” said Superior General of the Society of St. Edmund Father Dave Cray. “The Missions came to Selma more than 80 years ago to bring urgently needed help and hope to the poor in the Black Belt region. Now this unique place for our youth will be a wonderful thing for the city of Selma.”