Thomas Memorial Hospital is launching a fundraising effort to help pay for a $70 million expansion.

The South Charleston hospital plans to build a six-floor tower that will include private rooms, obstetrics unit, surgical center, cafe and kitchen. The new tower will increase Thomas Memorial's bed count from 225 to 260.

The Thomas Hospital Foundation has scheduled a news conference Thursday to announce a fundraising campaign. The foundation hopes to raise $6 million to help pay for the project. It already has $4.2 million in commitments.

Most of the project's cost will be paid with proceeds from a tax-exempt bond issue.