ROGERS -- Mercy held a groundbreaking to mark the beginning of construction for a new 7,400-square-foot clinic in Pea Ridge.

The clinic groundbreaking is Mercy's first as part of a $247 million expansion plan that will add seven clinics in the region and a second tower to the Rogers hospital.

Mercy Clinic Primary Care-Pea Ridge will house two providers, a physician and nurse practitioner, and feature 14 examination rooms. Specialty providers will also see patients at the clinic on a rotating basis.

Dr. Matthew Jennings will join the clinic when it opens in early fall. He brings more than two decades of experience, including multiple years in family practice, emergency medicine and urgent care, and has served in numerous supervisory roles.

Crossland Construction Co. will complete the building by August. Mercy's investment in the site and building is expected to total $4.1 million.