A $1 million loan was approved Friday by the Mercer County Industrial Development Corp. for improvement projects by Primary Health Network.

Jack Laeng, chief executive officer of Primary Health, said the improvements would mean the retention of 35 jobs and the creation of another 10 over three years.

The nonprofit health care provider is looking to:

   » Renovate and build a 3,200-square-foot addition at its building at 1112 S. Mill St., New Castle. The $720,000 project would add four doctors and two dentists.

   » Buy and renovate a 5,200-square-foot building it leases at 737 Greenville Road in Coolspring Township. Laeng said the $500,000 project represents a long-term commitment to the Mercer area.

Primary Health is offering $250,000 in equity for the projects. Headquartered in Sharon, Primary Health provides diagnostic treatment and preventive emergency care in various towns in a six-county area of western Pennsylvania. Sky Bank is the funding the projects which Charles Bestwick, MCIDA chairman, called the best of both worlds.