The Local Government Education Program (LGE) provided crucial assistance to the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative (CVHC) to re-open a closed hospital and construct a new hospital in Chippewa County. These projects will replace nearly 35% of the regional healthcare lost due to the sudden April 2024 closure of two hospitals and 19 medical clinics in the Chippewa Valley of northwest Wisconsin.
Extension worked with local business, civic and governmental leaders to: (1) identify and vet community leaders to serve on a formative CVHC Board that bring the necessary expertise in fundraising, community and government relations, construction, real estate, marketing and communications, and medical providers; (2) identify and vet consultants who could serve in a leadership capacity for CVHC, including administration and financial; (3) work with financial consultants to develop a financial proforma for CVHC; (4) work with potential federal government agency and cooperative lenders to assess financial capacity; (5) liaise with local government CVHC; (6) research and identify potential state and local government funding sources.
As of December 2024, CVHC plans to purchase the closed Chippewa Falls Hospital and is negotiating land acquisition to construct a new hospital. The re-opened hospital is expected to re-employ 350-400 of the jobs lost by the HSHS and Prevea closures and begin replacing the loss of critical healthcare services, including emergency, surgical, cancer, and birthing care. But for Extension’s extensive involvement in this important regional economic project, the CVHC Board, local legislators, and county officials believe this project would not have moved forward.
Additional information:
Local Government Education Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Community Development