Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin will be receiving its first major expansion project donation.

The Hormel Foundation has announced it will be making a $750,000 donation to the medical center for the project, which it will be breaking ground on in late July.

Jerry Anfinson, treasurer of the Hormel Foundation, said it’s an honor for the Hormel Foundation to be a part of the expansion.

“The medical center is a valuable member of our foundation family and we are pleased to be a part of their new expansion project and provide this donation on behalf of the Hormel Foundation,” Anfinson said. “We are blessed to have such great health care right here in our community and we look forward to all the improvements and enhancements this new building expansion will provide to all our community members.”

Craig Johnson, foundation executive director at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, said this donation is a wonderful way to kick off the public campaign.

“This exciting project … will add 70 new jobs to our community,” Johnson said. “More importantly, the building expansion will advance Mayo Clinic Health System’s primary value of ‘the needs of the patient come first.’”

The 86,500-square-foot, three-story expansion is projected to cost $28 million. Medical center officials expect the project to last 20-24 months.

Mayo Clinic in Austin and Hormel Foundation officials will hold a press conference about the donation Monday morning.

Look for more information Monday at www.AustinDailyHerald.com.