Wednesday, officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $1.2 million project. State senators, delegates, the Wheeling mayor and members of the Catholic Church were in attendance.

Since 1856, the facility has been home to thousands of boys and girls. It currently houses boys ages 8-14 that have behavioral or emotional difficulties or who are victims of abuse or neglect.

Officials said the facility is needed because West Virginia ranks near the top nationally in child abuse and neglect.

The project is a new 6,800-square-foot residential facility that puts everyone under one roof. Executive Director Terry McCormick said the expansion will provide more space and comfort for the boys.

"Our expansion is going from 8 beds to 12 beds for kids and we will actually have every child in single rooms. We're also going to put all of our services under one building from education services to recreation services to their sleeping quarters, dining and so forth," McCormick said.

The expansion is being managed by Project Best and is estimated to be completed around the end of the year.