Press Releases
October 30, 2009
Delegation, USDA Announce $46 Million
Federal Loan for New Jamestown Hospital
Funding Will Help Construct State-of-the-Art Medical Facility for Community
Washington – Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy today joined Jasper Schneider, North Dakota State Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, in announcing that USDA has approved federal loans totaling $46 million to help construct a new hospital in Jamestown.
Earlier this month the congressional delegation sent a letter to USDA Rural Development supporting Jamestown Hospital’s application for loans to finance the new hospital. USDA has approved a $15 million guaranteed loan and a $31 million direct loan. This is the largest project USDA – Rural Development North Dakota has ever been involved in.
“The people of Jamestown are in need of a modern day medical center to meet their health care needs. Once completed, this new facility will fill that void. The people of Jamestown and the surrounding area will have access to the comprehensive health care they need and deserve,” the congressional delegation said in a joint statement.
"USDA Rural Development was proud to partner with our federal delegation and the community of Jamestown to make the new hospital a reality," Jasper Schneider, State Director, USDA Rural Development said. "The $46 million funding is the largest project our office has been involved with and is consistent with our vision of providing superior health care to North Dakotans."
The current Jamestown Hospital opened in 1935 and was designed to the standards and practices of the time. The building is inefficient and is built on a hillside that results in steep grades and access problems. Management conducted an extensive analysis of renovating the existing facility and concluded the cost of renovation would be more than building a new facility.
The proposed new hospital will be built on a 50-acre site on the southwest side of Jamestown near Interstate 94. The 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art hospital will be designed to meet the needs of today’s patients. The facility -- scheduled to open in 2011 -- would provide improved access for patients and new medical specialties currently not available in the community.
