With a unanimous vote on Jan. 8, the Florence City Council approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Mickey Haddock to negotiate with UNA officials toward the purchase of the Florence Golf and Country Club to house a new center for the university’s integrative health program.

City officials purchased the property and UNA officials have been interested in buying the property for more than a year.

“I was involved in bringing the (Retirement Systems of Alabama) project to the area, and I believe this project will have an economic impact (like the RSA project did),” said Council President Dick Jordan.

The agreement to create the program and build the structures was made with Shenqi Ethnic Medical College in China. Chairman of the college Zhang Zhiting has agreed to purchase the land and fund the building of the center.

Zhang placed an offer with the city for $2.1 million with a promise of $50,000 in earnest money to be paid to the city.