Around 50 people braved a brisk, chilly wind Friday afternoon to celebrate the start of a new medical facility in Henryetta.
The ceremonial ground breaking was held at the Shurden-Leist industrial park to mark the start of work on the East Central Oklahoma Family health Center.
Donna Dyer, the organization’s CEO joined with city officials as well as her board members and representatives from the Henryetta Economic Development Authority to use gold painted shovels for the ground breaking.
A $1 million grant from the Health Infrastructure Investment Program was approved last May.
At a reception in Henryetta’s city hall, she told how the ECOFHC started with a 2008 grant for the Wetumka site. In 2012, a grant was approved to start facilities in Henryetta.
That provides health care for low income people including dental facilities.
“We are continually trying to improve,” she said. Another grant was made to open a facility in Wewoka. “Everything is an exciting time for us,” she added.
The henryetta facility will be a 7,00 square foot building with 12 exam room, dental facilities, digital x-ray facilities, behavioral health and child services.
“We are trying to meet the demand for what the county needs,” she said.
Dyer said the decision to come to Henryetta was made because the community was so welcoming.
Because the site is part of an EPA Superfund project, both the EPA and DEQ were consulted about the project. Both agencies gave their approval.
She said the project is about a year ahead of schedule and should be opened in just over a year.