$786,800 to build new healthcare facility in Cocke County

 

April 28, 2009 - COSBY, Tenn.—USDA Rural Development Area Director Jerry Amonett today joined Rural Medical Services (RMS) Chief Executive Officer Larry A. Stanifer for a ground-breaking ceremony on the new 7,200 square-foot medical facility. The event took place at the site of the new facility at the intersection of Wilton Spring Road and Old Cosby Highway.

 

"For years, the providers and support staff at the Bogard Center have provided excellent care despite a less than ideal facility," said Deana Brotherton, Family Practitioner at Bogard Center and Medical Director of RMS. "The current building was never designed to be an office and has become impossible to maintain. The new building will allow provision of care to the residents of Cosby and the surrounding areas in an efficient center that the community and staff can be proud of."

 

According to Brotherton, the patient load has increasingly become more difficult to handle in the current facility, and with the county growth, a new facility is a necessity.

 

The construction is made possible by a $686,800 loan and a $100,000 grant from the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program, as well as $53,982 in contributions by RMS. The new clinic will have 10 examination rooms, an OB-GYN room, trauma room and will meet handicap accessibility standards.

 

"Access to good healthcare is critical to the economic health and quality of life in rural communities," said Amonett. "Thanks to the support of our congressional delegation Rural Development has the financial resources to make sure the people of Cocke County have local access to quality health care."

 

Rural Development’s community facilities program uses direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to provide rural areas with the financial resources to construct or improve essential services like healthcare, education, civic, and first responder facilities. The loan-guarantee program encourages private lenders to expand their investment of capital in rural communities. Community facilities programs target rural areas with a population less than 20,000.

 

Others participating in the event included RMS Chief Financial Officer Francis Shelley, RMS President of the Board Becky Dance, President of Merit Construction Bruce Bosse and Mrs. Russell Fodness, donor of the land for the project, and USDA Rural Development staff Marisol Torres and Mary Short.

 

Committed to the future of rural communities in Tennessee, USDA Rural Development invests financial and technical assistance through housing, community and business development programs.  In Fiscal Year 2008 Rural Development assisted more than 678,000 Tennessee families and businesses with more than $435 million in financial assistance through loans, loan guarantees and grants.

 

For more information on Rural Development programs available in Cocke County contact the Area Office in Knoxville at 865-523-3338 ext 4, toll free at (800) 342-3149 ext. 1491, or online at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.

 

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