HCMH announces $19.2 million building expansion
This is an architectural design rendering of what a new entrance to the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital will look like. On Monday, the hospital unveiled plans for a $19.2 million expansion. Graphic courtesy of RDG and HCMH.
By Kent Thompson
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) has announced completion of its facility master plan, which will include the construction of a two-story 40,000 square foot addition, south and east of the current building structure.
HCMH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michelle Sleiter said the total building project budget is $19.2 million.
The new addition will include space for primary care medical providers through the relocation of the UnityPoint Clinic, inside the hospital. The area will also include outpatient specialty services, rehabilitation services, cardiopulmonary services, diabetic education, dietary support, patient education area and a new conference center that will double the space of the existing center.
The building project will also include renovated space within the existing hospital of approximately 5,000 square feet. The work will include a new look, expanded area and outdoor patio area for Genevieve’s Place, the hospital auxiliary’s hospitality area and gift shop, new offices for Humboldt County Public Health and a new patient registration area with more privacy.
Sleiter said the new addition is being driven by growth in the hospital’s outpatient service area, as well as the need to provide an expanded and updated clinic setting.
The key lynchpin was evaluating the hospital’s financial stability and analyzing the hospital’s ability to support expansion.
The Board of Trustees and management team reviewed all financial options and agreed it was best to explore funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Direct Loan Program.
“I am pleased today to report that we have been able to secure a $13,925,000 40-year 3.25 annual interest percentage fixed direct loan through USDA,” Sleiter said.
She said additional financial sourcing will include operational funds, financial reserves, HCMH Foundation support and the pursuit of other rural economic loans and grant programs available in Humboldt County. Sleiter mentioned that economic development funding through Corn Belt and Midland Power cooperatives is a possibility.
She said a financial analysis reveals that the building project will be able to cash flow without additional property tax levies to citizens, or the need for a capital campaign.
A possible project timeline is an April 2018 groundbreaking with construction continuing through 2019.
To read more about this story and to so how you could be involved through HCMH Foundation giving, see this week's Humboldt Independent. Subscribe to the print or digital editions by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
