Guadalupe Regional Medical Center receives $10M in state funding
19 Sep 2023
Healthcare
Dalondo Moultrie The Seguin Gazette
It can be difficult getting politicians to agree on anything, but a community project made it into the state’s budget to bring a new medical facility to Seguin and Guadalupe County.
Legislators approved a $10 million expenditure for the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center to build a 25,000-square-foot medical building in Seguin, Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation CEO Elaine Bennett said.
“I was over the moon whenever we found this out,” she said. “Many have been following the Texas Legislature this year and may have noticed how difficult it was for any consensus and action. However, the budget for the next two years was passed and I’m pleased to tell you that GRMC and Seguin will benefit greatly from one line item in that budget.”
The hospital plans to construct the medical office building on the same land as the medical center’s Willow Building, located at 105 Medical Drive off U.S. Hwy. 90 Alternate.
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center leadership sees the building as a way to attract new physicians to help deal with the explosive growth in the area, Bennett said. Nicer, new office space and state-of-the-art facilities will also help patients’ comfort as doctors provide medical care in the community.
“It’s modernization for office buildings for physicians and their patients,” Bennett said.
Community support helped persuade legislators to include the expenditure in the state budget, she said. Community leaders and residents from across the county helped with a letter campaign to show their backing of the project, Bennett said.
Area legislators also did their part in championing the project, she said. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-District 21) and State Rep. John Kuempel (R-District 44) helped make it happen, Bennett said.
Zaffirini said she was delighted to author a budget rider to the appropriations bill in the Senate Finance Committee, which led to the $10 million coming to Guadalupe County.
“I believe very strongly that the greatest wealth is health. This new (facility) can help many patients realize the significance of those words,” the senator said. “Through their valuable and essential services, its personnel will not only save countless lives in Guadalupe County and surrounding areas, but also create economic opportunities from job openings at the medical facility to ancillary benefits for local businesses.”
Kuempel said he is proud to have had a part in securing the funding that will help bring this kind of facility to the community which is necessary for the county’s future, he said.
“As we continue to experience unprecedented growth in Guadalupe County, it’s vital to our prosperity to provide first-class medical services,” the representative said. “The appropriated money will help recruit medical professionals through an investment in new facilities overseen by the Texas Facilities Commission. Our fight to secure the money in HB 1 proved successful, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of the team that made it possible.”
The Texas Facilities Commission will receive the state’s $10 million for the project, Bennett said. The commission is also responsible for environmental assessment and complete construction due diligence, she said.
After the commission constructs the building, it will hand over the keys to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center personnel, Bennett said.
Construction should be complete within about two years, but she and others are hopeful it can be done in about 18 months.
“It’s a big deal for us to get this. We’re very grateful for all of the support we received locally and in the Legislature. We’re very fortunate.”
Elaine Bennett, Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation Chief Executive Officer
More Topics
