Ground breaks on housing project

PARIS, Ill. (WTHI) - A new housing project got its official start today.

A ground breaking ceremony took place to kick off construction of the "Maple Ridge Apartments" affordable housing development in Paris, Ill.

It will have 16 buildings with 50 units for rent.

The $5.8 million project is funded mostly by federal stimulus money and will employ 50 local Union construction workers.

"The minute we announced this, it was amazing. We started getting calls immediately to city hall," Mayor of Paris Craig Smith said.

The housing project is expected to be completed early 2011.