Summit Pacific Medical Center (SPMC) in Elma has received assistance in construction of a wellness center through a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan.

SPMC learned they were being awarded the loan on Friday, Aug. 11. Josh Martin, Summit Pacific CEO, said the loan is exciting especially when taking into account the USDA is tightening down on health care funding.

“Considering at the national level, there were more projects than there was funding and how the USDA is tightening down on health care funding, we found out we were one of the hospitals in Washington state (to receive a loan),” Martin said. “The fact that it came to Elma and to Summit Pacific – we were pretty excited.”

Summit Pacific will receive a loan for $21.2 million from the USDA. The wellness center construction is expected to cost some $33 million. The remaining funds will come from a private lender in the amount of $8.9 million and from SPMC’s reserves.

Payments on the loan will be made to the USDA yearly and will begin once construction begins. Martin said construction is set to begin Sept. 18 of this year. SPMC will hold a groundbreaking ceremony 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 15 with food and special guest speakers such as SPMC staff and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer.

The wellness center is expected to expand services at Summit Pacific and will bring additional jobs. Martin expects 80 jobs to pop up thanks to the center.

“We’ll be expanding in physical therapy and hiring more physicians,” Martin said. “Every physician creates about three to four full-time positions that support one physician. This wellness center will create more access for patients and create more jobs.”

The center will be three stories and will encompass 60,000 square feet. A new cafe and perhaps a climbing wall for children will pair with increased services to give Summit Pacific a whole new way to reach the community, Martin said.

“We appreciate the USDA for their consideration,” Martin said. “We had the national office come out to meet with us on site and meet the executive team to really understand our vision. I think of it as a community wellness center. We’re really trying to put the health back into health care and this is a vehicle to do that.”

The wellness center is projected to be completed in early spring of 2019 and will open its doors at about the same time.