MINOCQUA - The Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minocqua held its grand opening today.

Now that the center is finished, patients will have a new place to get well.

It offers short-term and long-term rehabilitation services.

Joe Simonich, Vice President, Avanti Health Systems, says, "About 15 or 16 months ago we took over the Dr. Kate Convalescent Center in Woodruff, we leased that space there and operated that as a nursing home until we move our patients in here tomorrow."

The facility has 72 beds.

Simonich says it will also bring jobs to the area by employing 70 to 100 people.

Avanti says it's the second largest employer in northwest Wisconsin, with a total workforce of over 1,200 employees.