(The Willits News) — Adventist Health will finance, design and construct a new 25-bed community hospital in Willits, according to a letter of intent signed this week with the Frank R. Howard Foundation. The new hospital design is expected to be complete by fall.
“This is a win for our community, a win for the Howard Foundation and a win for Adventist Health,” says Kevin Erich, hospital president and chief executive officer.
“Our organization anticipates investing $58 million into the new Howard Memorial Hospital and then will continue to lease the property the hospital will be built on,” says Adventist Health Senior Vice President Scott Reiner. “Adventist Health is proud of its 24-year history of providing care in Willits, and is pleased to partner with the foundation in this new undertaking. We are making a significant investment in this community.”
The Howard Foundation will lease the property for the hospital at the East Hill Road site to Adventist Health and provide the money it has already raised for the new hospital construction as its contribution to the project. In return, Adventist Health will handle the design, further financing, construction and hospital operations for the facility. At the end of the long-term lease, the hospital could be turned over to the foundation, although this would likely require negotiations and discussions at the time.
“I’m ecstatic,” says Howard Foundation President
Margie Handley. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the love and support of the community, including the many hours volunteers have put into this dream and vision. For this we are eternally grateful.
“It has been a long six-year haul and this agreement is the right thing to do. What makes me happiest is now we can focus on building the campus surrounding the hospital.”
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SOURCE: The Willits News
