Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 2:17 pm

City, county and state dignitaries were on hand at the ground breaking for the new Chamber of Commerce building and visitors' center. TMP/M. Willard

Murfreesboro is on its way to getting a visitors’ center and new home for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

Dignitaries from across the county were on hand Friday to break ground on the new Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton Visitors’ Center and Chamber of Commerce building.

The building will be three floors, with a visitors’ center and convention bureau on the first floor, and Chamber of Commerce offices, and expansion space on the second and third floors.

The visitor center will be located on a triangular shaped-parcel bounded by Wilkinson Pike, Medical Center Parkway and Gresham Park Drive.

The visitors’ center will include interactive displays featuring Rutherford County’s history and heritage.

The center cost an estimated $6.9 million, paid for in part by a $3.3 million Tennessee Department of Transportation grant to the city and a $2 million grant for the Chamber portion.