Demolition has begun on several buildings to make way for a new $11 million community service center for Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley.

The former Benham’s property and all of the buildings in the 600 block of South Main are being demolished to make way for the new community service center.

Buying the buildings, tearing them down and remediating the land is expected to cost about $3.15 million, Goodwill Easter Seals officials said. A $2.2 million “Clean Ohio” state grant will pay about 70 percent of those per-construction costs, with Goodwill putting up $905,000 and neighboring Miami Valley Hospital contributing $47,000.

The 80,000-square-foot facility will house the 125 employees who currently work at Goodwill’s Kuntz Road headquarters off Stanley Avenue.

Agency officials anticipate creating 50 more jobs during the next five years at the new center. When it opens in late 2014 or early 2015, the community service center will allow Goodwill Easter Seals to expand its services to the developmentally disabled, elderly and unemployed - services that are in high demand because of the recession and aging population.