JAMESTOWN, N.D. - The first shovels hit the dirt in the construction of the $52 million Jamestown Regional Medical Center on Wednesday as a dozen dignitaries put on hard hats and officially started the project.
About 200 area residents were on hand for the groundbreaking in the green field site of the future 25-bed critical access hospital on the southwest edge of town. Jamestown Hospital officials hope the weather holds so the 20 months of construction of the 100,000-square-foot facility can start immediately. It will replace the 75-year-old hospital downtown.
"This is a triumph for the community," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. "It was badly needed and will serve the region for years to come."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development provided $46 million in funding to make the new facility possible. Dallas Tonsager, under secretary for the USDA Rural Development, joined Jasper Schneider, state director of USDA Rural Development, in presenting the ceremonial check to hospital officials.
"This facility will reshape this community for decades to come. I'm so pleased to be part of this," Tonsager said. "I commend your vision and commitment for affordable and quality health care."
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Schneider said USDA Rural Development partnered with the community and the congressional delegation to move the project forward. The $46 million is the largest project funded by USDA Rural Development in North Dakota.
Of the funding, $31 million is in a direct USDA loan and $15 million will be a bank loan guaranteed by the USDA. Gov. John Hoeven told those attending the groundbreaking that the Bank of North Dakota is funding the guaranteed loan amount.
"This is important, not just to Jamestown but to the whole region," Hoeven said. "We can't have the quality of life we want without quality health care."
The Jamestown Sun and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
