From left, Mayor Ramona Carr, Dave Kennedy, Dr. Mary Bishop, Jessica Pauley, Kevin Lefler, Lisa Jackson, Carol Stivers, Kim Patton and Pat Hays pose in front of the HealthSource New Richmond Family Practice rendering before breaking ground.
HealthSource of Ohio broke ground for two new health centers located in Eastgate and New Richmond last week. The projects, which are a combined investment of $9.7 million, are expected to create at least 169 construction jobs and up to 22 permanent health care jobs.

The first groundbreaking, held March 31, was for the HealthSource Eastgate facility, which will be HealthSource’s largest facility at 28,000 square feet. The center will provide health care, dentistry, pediatrics and other services.

“Access to healthcare is so important,” Lisa Jackson, vice president, marketing and development for HealthSource, said about the Eastgate facility. “It will allow us to meet those demands.”

The facility is expected to serve 3,000 to 5,000 patients, and Jackson said HealthSource will be able to hire four medical providers and eight support staff for the center.

HealthSource broke ground for the New Richmond Family Practice facility April 1. The 15,000 square foot facility will replace the smaller HealthSource center located down the street and will be able to accommodate 2,000 additional patients.

“We began planning for these projects a long time ago,” said HealthSource President and CEO Kim Patton at the New Richmond groundbreaking.

“This is going to allow us to expand.”

Jackson said all services at the New Richmond center will be moved to the new facility and the old building could become administrative offices. Jackson also said HealthSource will hire two additional providers for the new center and up to eight support staff.

Both centers were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by Congress in 2009 to create new jobs, save existing jobs and encourage economic development. Patton said HealthSource of Ohio was among 80 projects chosen to receive a grant out of over 700 candidates.

“Now we can finally begin construction,” said Pat Hays, board chair of HealthSource, as he broke ground at the Eastgate location.

Turnbull-Wahlert Construction will be building both facilities, and the projects will create 169 local construction jobs. Jackson also said HealthSource is working to get the buildings LEED certified for energy efficiency.

HealthSource Ohio is a not-for-profit federally qualified community health center that serves five counties and has 12 existing offices. The Eastgate location is expected to be completed by December 2011 and the New Richmond center is expected to be finished by October 2011.