New Libby hospital gets ‘green light’ to be built
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
August 30, 2012
A long awaited "green light" has been given for a new hospital to be built in Libby. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) gave the go ahead for the Libby Project. HUD, a department of the Federal Government, will guarantee the $32 million loan. Lancaster-Pollard a finance organization of Columbus, Ohio will be handling the financing.
The new 79,000 square foot facility will house 25 private rooms with showers, toilet facilities and room for family, an expanded emergency department, larger surgical suites with additional recovery rooms, upgraded internal MRI and imaging technology, substantial parking, and many other amenities that will allow St. John's to continue to expand healthcare services.
The new facility will be located just north of the hospital and east of the Libby Care Center and the Northwest Community Health Center. The location was chosen for its proximity to the other healthcare clinics and agencies that rely on St. John's for services.
Breaking ground this fall and anticipating a Grand Opening in the spring of 2014, the first step will be the demolition of the hospital's conference center.
The architects and general contractor for the project are CTA and Swank, a Kalispell-based construction firm, are committed to hiring local subcontractors wherever possible. In the bidding process, the hospital stipulated that Swank hire at least 20% from the South Lincoln County workforce.
A capital fundraising campaign has been on-going over the past four years. The goal was to raise $1.5 million dollars to help off-set the debt on the project. To date $1.4 million out of the $32 million has been raised.
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By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
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