Alaska voters approve USDA loan to revamp hospital

11/17/2011

Wrangell, Alaska, residents recently voted "Yes" for Proposition 1, which will allow the city to move forward with a new hospital facility funded by a USDA loan, KSTK-FM reports.

The ruling passed with 351 votes for and 143 against to accept the USDA's $24.7 million loan, which will cover a portion of the cost of the new healthcare center.

"I think it's a strong message from the voters of Wrangell, saying the hospital is something they want to see happen, hopefully we move forward as quick as possible," Wrangell city manager Timothy Rooney told the news source.

He added that the next step will be developing a building committee with recommendations offered to the borough assembly.

The hospital also recently received a grant for more than $8,000 from the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association to upgrade its emergency preparedness response, according to the Wrangell Medical Center Newsletter. The money will be used to improve its reaction protocol for bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats.