There was some good news for the Town of Beaverlodge in the provincial budget: $2 million for the planning of the local health complex.
Mayor Leona Hanson says the town’s meetings with Health Minister Stephen Mandel have been encouraging, and the funds only help them get closer to their goal.
“To look at some innovative ways to try and solve some of the issues that are occurring with the facility in Beaverlodge right now – the old hospital. The opportunity to have the $2 million, we may call it seed money to help us take it to the next stage; put some design work around it.”
Plans for the facility were announced at the end of 2013, and private investors have shown and interest in partnering as well.
Hanson adds that these funds help show investors that there’s support for the facility.
“We definitely have had that indication from the province for some time now, but having money attached to it so that we can engage architects, engineers; that type of thing is really the next stage that we needed to move it to.”
Also in the provincial budget is $105 million for the new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital next year.