Ground will be churned at the site of the new Troy Plaza today at a ground breaking ceremony at 11 a.m.

The City of Troy and the Pike County Economic Development Corporation will join Troy Plaza, L.L.C. for inaugural ceremonies for the new Hampton Inn that is now under construction on the site formerly occupied by Wal-Mart on Hwy. 231 in Troy.

"The ground breaking for the new Hampton Inn is an event we have all looked forward to for many months," said Marsha Gaylard, the development corporation's president.

"This is the first new business to locate on the site of what will be the new Troy Plaza Shopping Center development. We look forward to hopefully many more such ground breakings in the near future," she said.

In addition to city, business and economic development leaders, hotel owners Tom Hunt and Howard Porter will attend the ceremonies.

Troy Plaza developers Burton Green and Howard Carr will also take part in the activities.

"I hope the community will come out and show their support for this new development," Gaylard said.

Gaylard said drawings depicting what the shopping center will look like when completed will be unveiled to the public.

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford, who Gaylard said was instrumental in the project's initial development, said the project was something the citizens of Troy could take a much pride in.

"I'm glad to see this project get under way. It will have a positive impact for our city and something we all can take pride in," he said.