OCOEE, Fla. (AP) — The NFL Alumni Association and a Florida-based developer are celebrating the start of construction on a new retirement center that will provide assisted living and memory care services for former NFL players.

Officials from both groups gathered for a ceremony in Ocoee, Florida to mark the $1.1 billion project led by Validus Senior Living. It is building 33 facilities nationwide over the next five years. The communities will be located in major cities with a high concentration of retired NFL players.

Hall of Famers Jack Youngblood, Kellen Winslow, Dwight Stephenson and others were on hand Thursday at the Ocoee site, which will have capacity for 158 residents.

According to the NFL and NFL Players Association, nearly 30 percent of players will develop Alzheimer's disease or some other dementia-related brain condition.