The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced this week its community-based clinic in Albert Lea will move to a new location on East Main Street next year after extensive renovations.

The VA signed a 10-year lease for $3.83 million with Purple Heart Heroes LLC of Los Angeles, California, for 9,975 square feet of space at 2211 E. Main St., according to a press release.

As of Thursday, the property was still owned by E. Family C. LLC, according to online property records.

The current VA clinic, at Skyline Plaza, has about 6,900 square feet of space, making the new building a substantial increase of clinical space for the Albert Lea area, the release stated.

Renovations are expected to cost $2.15 million and will begin in 2020.

Sandra Roy, public affairs specialist with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, said the VA is still in the beginning design phase for the project, and it is too early to predict a layout of the space or a completion date.

The Albert Lea VA community clinic is part of the Minneapolis VA health care system, which includes a medical center in Minneapolis and nine community clinics in Minnesota and four in Wisconsin.

The Albert Lea clinic provides primary care, including chronic disease management, patient education and health promotion; mental health services; tele-healthcare; and pharmacy management.

Roy said the new building is not expected to expand services.

The clinic has more than 3,500 veterans enrolled for care.

Brandon Servantes, Freeborn County Veterans Services officer, said he will meet with VA Clinic officials in a few weeks and looks forward to hearing more information. He had not heard many details yet of the project.