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MARTINS FERRY -- East Ohio Regional Hospital will be able to take the necessary steps to reopen and improve the building located in Martins Ferry, thanks to $10 million in recently approved loans, local lawmakers said Monday.
The money approved at Monday's Controlling Board meeting will help finance the purchase of new machinery and equipment, as well as make improvements to the hospital structure itself. Ohio Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, and Ohio Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction, announced the allocation.
"As a member of the State Controlling Board, I am always happy to lend my support to worthy projects that benefit the residents of eastern Ohio. The approval of this low-interest loan will help create 300 new jobs at this site," Cera said.
Cera said the closing of the hospital in September 2019 by its former owner, Alecto Healthcare Services, was devastating to local residents. At that time, Cera worked with numerous community leaders in trying to save the hospital. Cera said he was glad to see the allocation approved for the hospital. Hoagland noted the facility provided quality health care for 114 years before its closure.
"These funds will go a long way in helping provide them with the needed resources to not only maintain their services and employment but to also grow them," he said.
Hoagland noted the additional funding needed to secure the loan was approved by the General Assembly last week as part of House Bill 614, an amendment submitted by Hoagland. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature.
An announcement was made last May that EORH was purchased by a new owner, Dr. John Johnson of the Dayton area, who plans to reopen the facility by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, the Controlling Board also approved more than $12.2 million in funds for reclaiming abandoned mine lands throughout many Appalachian counties in the state of Ohio. Cera noted that tens of thousands of acres of land in eastern and southeastern Ohio still needs to be reclaimed. Cera has introduced legislation over the last three General Assemblies to increase funding for mine reclamation.
Local projects include the Jefferson County Industrial Park, which is scheduled to receive an estimated $300,000 for site development on an abandoned mine spoil to prepare for a spec building by the Jefferson County Commission.