Cambria County's president commissioner says Laurel Crest nursing home is close to landing almost $6 million in state funding. The county-owned nursing home was nearly sold three years ago but now seems to be well on its way to becoming a big money-maker.

The $5.8 million will be used for the development of specialty care units at Laurel Crest. That includes expanding and updating the respiratory unit from 17 to 33 beds as well as other improvements. Cambria County Commissioners announced Monday the funds were awarded by the Department of Public Welfare.

Last year the county had to give up some bed licenses in order to qualify for a greater share of state funding, but Commissioner PJ Stevens says there was no guarantee that the project funds would come through. In the end, they did get the money and Stevens says county residents also have a reason to smile.

"With these programs, the home has the potential to generate an additional one million dollars a year in profit," said Stevens. "That's great news to the taxpayers of Cambria County."

Commissioners say the renovation work has the potential to create new jobs but they are not saying how many at this point in time. The work is expected to be completed in a year and a half.