FAIRMONT – Valley HealthCare System announced plans for a $7 million, three-building expansion that will provide additional beds for its addiction treatment programs it has been running out of Fairmont for the last 35 years.
Gerry Schmidt, Valley’s chief operations officer, said there has been a steady increase in demand for detoxification services.
“Our programs are full right now,” he said. “We got an expansion grant from the state of West Virginia and we’re funding the rest of the project ourselves.” Additional funding from a USDA loan, Schmidt said.
The expansion – designed by The Thrasher Group of Bridgeport – will give Valley HealthCare 80 additional beds, split evenly between men and women. An additional, shared facility will provide 16 family beds, as well as designated treatment rooms, central dining, offices, multi-purpose activity areas and exercise space.
Valley has plans in the future for an extended child-care program that will be designed to house women and their children, Schmidt said.
“We look forward this expansion of vital addiction treatment services in a time when we are seeing a steady increase in the demand for detox, residential and extended-care treatment,” Schmidt said.
“We serve the entire state of West Virginia,” he added.
Construction of the expansion project on Crosswinds Drive is slated for completion in August 2021.
“We have partnered with Valley for more than 25 years, working together to improve the community around us,” said Craig Baker, Thrasher’s Building’s and Facilities Marketing Director in a statement. “We appreciate the work they do for our state and for the opportunity to play a small role in it.”
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