February 23, 2009

Nome Hospital Funded in Economic Recovery Package

Alaska project one of two to get Indian Health Service Money

Less than a week after President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Indian Health Service (IHS) has announced funding for the long-awaited replacement hospital in Nome, Alaska. Sen. Mark Begich was informed today that the IHS has approved $152 million for the major construction phase of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital.

"This is great news for Nome and for all of Alaska," Sen. Begich said. "This new hospital is desperately needed to serve the Norton Sound area, and the project is expected to create hundreds of good-paying jobs for Alaskans."

According to the project summary submitted to Sen. Begich, the hospital will create an estimated 200 construction jobs, many of them as early as this summer; an additional 100 new positions once it's completed; and 450 existing jobs will be retained.

"This is exactly the kind of project the stimulus was designed for," Sen. Begich said. "It's the #1 priority for the community, it will create or save hundreds of jobs, and it will be a huge economic boost to the local economy."

The new hospital will total 144,000 square feet and replace the current 1950s-era facility. It has been at or near the top of the IHS priority list for several years. Norton Sound Health Corporation serves nearly 10,000 Alaskans in a 44,000-square-mile area in Northwest Alaska.

The final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included $227 million for two IHS projects already underway. Officials have told Sen. Begich the Norton Sound Regional Hospital and a project in South Dakota, were the two chosen by the IHS for the funding.

The Recovery Act is expected to create or save over 8,000 jobs in Alaska over the next two years and bring critical support for road construction, energy projects, and education funding.

From a Senator Mark Begich press release