(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton Medical District announced on Monday, April 11th they have taken a major step toward the goal of building a new 14-bed hospital. The District has been awarded a USDA Rural Development loan of $37 million dollars for the project. This is the largest award it has ever provided in Wyoming.
This news is important for the community leaders’ plans to move forward and allow the Riverton Medical District team to take the next steps for creating a new locally owned and governed health care facility.
“We are absolutely thrilled about USDA’s positive response to our plans and we are extremely thankful for their confidence in the Riverton Medical District,” said District board member Corte McGuffey. “With this terrific news, we will move forward with additional planning to provide excellent health care for our Riverton region. Special thanks to our supporters throughout the community, including the Eastern Shoshone Tribe for helping us secure the land. The District plans to keep the community updated as additional steps are accomplished.”
“Today is a big day for Fremont County residents. This citizen-led effort seeking access to quality health care has been inspiring,” said Glenn Pauley, State Director for USDA Rural Development. “This loan is the largest Wyoming Rural Development award granted to-date, and we are proud to partner with the Riverton Medical District to provide health care equity.”
The low-interest USDA Community Facilities loan announcement adds to the recent news of the Riverton Medical District signing a Letter of Intent with Billings Clinic to be the clinical and management partner for the new health care facility. Billings Clinic is a regional health care leader with an affiliation network featuring relationships with 17 health care facilities across Montana and Wyoming, including Basin, Lovell and Powell; and a clinic in Cody.
“The Riverton Medical District’s progress with the USDA support is a critical step forward and we congratulate them on this major development,” said Dr. Clint Seger, Billings Clinic Regional Chief Medical Officer. “Our shared values aim to keep people close to home for their care, and this helps all of us accomplish that.”
Riverton Medical District is working to build the hospital to serve patients and enhance health care services throughout the Riverton region. This includes plans for high-quality primary, acute, emergency and specialty health care services, with a focus on being responsible community partners and providing local jobs in central Wyoming.
“The members of the Riverton Medical District embarked on this important work over three years ago,” McGuffey said. “We are grateful for the community members who have joined with us to support this effort from the very beginning. It is only because of their unwavering confidence in us that we will have a community governed hospital that will bring medical security back to our area for generations to come.”
In an exclusive interview with County 10, McGuffey shared they plan to break ground as soon as possible, however, they do not have a specific date set at this time.
Construction on this 60,000+ square foot facility that will sit on a 12-acre campus at the Eastern Shoshone Business Park, located just north of Walmart, is expected to take around 18 months. The prime contractor is Madison, Wisconsin-based Erdman, who has done quite a bit of work in this area including a recent remodel at Westward Heights in Lander. They plan to use as many local sub-contractors as possible.
The latest hospital renderings by Mitch Goplen, Billings Clinic Vice President of Facility Services, can be viewed below.
The facility is expected to employ approximately 140 people – that includes physicians, staff and administrators.
Community members who have pledged money will be receiving a letter, email, or phone call in the coming weeks inviting them to deposit their pledges at Wyoming Community Bank.
They just ask for continued community support and patience as this process continues.
“Our work here is not done, shared Vivian Watkins, a District board member. “We have a lot of work to do. Getting this gorgeous hospital out of the ground and getting the operations set in place. We’re going to need our community to continue to stand and hold our hand and encourage us.”
To read all of County 10’s coverage of the Riverton Medical District, click here.