A contractor broke ground on Elk Run's biobusiness park in Pine Island on Thursday morning. The park's first building is expected to open at the end of August 2011, according to Elk Run's developer, Tower Investments.

Elk Run is a 2,325-acre project that will eventually encompass a biobusiness park, a wellness community, housing and other commercial space. The project has been riddled with delays and hurt by the recession.

Officials had said in July that construction on its first 50,400 square foot building would begin by September. Then in September, officials said construction could start as early as October.

Geoff Griffin, Elk Run's project manager, said Tower has based its construction schedule on the needs of tenants.

"It doesn't make sense to finish the building a month before the tenant needs to be there," Griffin said. "As far as we're concerned, there's been no delay at all."