Officials with the state of Kentucky and senior-living facility operator Signature Healthcare LLC confirmed Monday that the company will move its headquarters to Louisville from Palm Beach Gardens Fla.

According to a news release issued by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s office, the company initially will create 96 jobs in Louisville but expects to grow to more than 120.

Signature operates 66 long-term health care facilities in seven Southeastern states. It employs nearly 11,000 people.

“Louisville, Kentucky will provide a great central location with one of the best quality of life environments for families, rich university partnerships and an amazing talent pool to foster aggressive growth,” Signature president and CEO E. Joseph Steier III said in the release. “A key differentiator for the decision was the true collaborative effort of the economic development teams at both the state and local levels.”

As Business First reported Friday, Signature plans to buy what formerly was a Sears, Roebuck & Co. call center as 12201 Bluegrass Parkway for its headquarters.

As a part of its relocation to Louisville, Signature also has developed a life-sciences partnership with the University of Louisville. The university, through its Nucelus: Kentucky’s Life Sciences and Innovation Center LLC, will work with Signature to create the International Center for Long Term Care Innovation.

The center will house and assist in the development of early-stage health technology and services companies that create products for the aging-care industry, according to the release.

Officials said $5 million will be raised for the new center. The money will help fund startup companies located at the incubator, likely in increments of $50,000 to $100,000, said John Reinhart, president and CEO of the center and a consultant who has been working with Signature.

Nucleus is based 201 E. Jefferson St., near downtown Louisville.

“The University of Louisville has several world-class faculty and research programs that are engaged in aging-care research and development,” University of Louisville president James Ramsey said in the release.

“Our researchers are on the forefront in senior-focused health care, gerontology, geriatric medicine and aging,” Ramsey added. “As the state’s life-science and innovation center, Nucleus has everything it needs to establish a center that will be a core component of this community-wide effort.”Additional information about Nucleus can be found at www.nucleusky.com. Additional information about job openings at Signature Healthcare can be found at www.signaturehealthcarellc.com.