Local and state political leaders joined members and supporters of Cetronia Ambulance Corps to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Cetronia Ambulance and Lehigh County Joint Operations and Medico-Legal Forensics Center at Broadway and Parkway Road, South Whitehall Township.

Gov. Tom Corbett and Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley were on hand, as well as state Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, Lisa Boscola, D-18th, State Reps. Julie Harhart, R-183rd and Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th, as well as numerous Lehigh County and South Whitehall Township leaders.

"This building will stand as a symbol of how state, county and local governments work together to provide for public safety," Corbett said. "That's a core function of government and the people of Cetronia and Lehigh County are essential to keeping the public safe."

Mackenzie addressed the gathering, thanking the first responders for their service.

"This state-of-the-art facility, which is located in our district, will help our first responders serve and protect the Lehigh Valley region for many years to come and I thank them for their ongoing efforts to help keep us safe," Mackenzie said. "Our emergency responders play a vital role in our local communities and it's important for our state government to support and fund them."

The facility will also have an education center to train EMS, and public health and safety providers throughout the region.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps CEO Larry Wiersch introduced the dignitaries and expressed the ambulance corps' appreciation for the financial support from both state and county governments, and especially from the Walson Family, owners of Service Electric Cable TV.

They presented checks in the amount of $225,000 from Service Electric and $50,000 from the Walson family.

Corbett highlighted his support for public safety in his talk, which he said is a very important function of government.

The Cetronia Ambulance and Lehigh County Joint Operations and Medico-Legal Forensics Center will consolidate Cetronia's operations, administration and garage facilities into one space as well as house the Lehigh County Coroner's office.

The land was donated by Lehigh County and sits at the western entrance to the county sports fields.