ORONO – Ground will be broken for a new retirement community of nearly 200 cottages and apartments at 2 p.m. today near the corner of Kelley Road and Main Road.

The project, to occupy 58 acres in Orono, is described as a joint venture between Eastern Maine Healthcare and Josco Partners, LLC, a corporation represented by Scott T. Johnson of Bangor and Joseph F. Hogan of Standish.

Sixty-eight one-story cottages will have two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen and a choice of three floor plans. Residents purchase the cottages through a cooperative arrangement, and a monthly fee covers property taxes and a variety of maintenance services.

The 125 apartments in the Inn at Dirigo Pines will have one or two bedrooms, with three choices of floor plans for each size apartment. A monthly fee covers rent and utilities, daily dinner, weekly housekeeping and scheduled transportation.

For those needing an assisted-living program, some of the apartments will be one-bedroom units with bath and kitchenette. The plan includes three daily meals, housekeeping and laundry service.

In addition, the complex will include The Arbor, a “special neighborhood” for residents with memory loss. The complex will include a dining room, library, exercise facility, beauty salon, media room, activities room and four-season porch.

Health services will be available through Norumbega Medical, EMH’s physician practice; through Rosscare’s Center for Healthy Aging; and through Bangor Area Visiting Nurses. There also will be a professional nurse on-site.

“The town of Orono is looking forward to Dirigo Pines coming in,” Assistant Town Manager David Struck said Monday. “The cottages will be a definite addition to the community.”

Participants in today’s ground-breaking will include Norman Ledwin, president of Eastern Maine Healthcare; Ken Hews, executive vice president of EMH; George Eaton, chairman of the Rosscare board; Josco representatives Joseph T. Hogan and Scott T. Johnson; and Peter Hoff, president of the University of Maine.

For information on Dirigo Pines, call 866-3400 or check the Web site at www.dirigopines.com.