Yadkin Commissioners Accept Grant For Hospital

Yadkin County commissioners have agreed to accept a grant that could help reopen its community hospital.

The commissioners unanimously agreed to accept almost $450,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation to advance the hospital's reopening. That was contingent upon a match of twenty percent - or about $112,000 - from the county.

County officials say the money will be used to replace the heating and cooling system, refurbish the parking lot and upgrade the sidewalks.

“We are very grateful to the Golden LEAF Foundation for their generous gift that will help us make a quality healthcare facility become a reality,” board chairman Kevin Austin says in a statement. “The county will begin the bid process to start these renovations immediately.”

Yadkin Valley Community Hospital's for-profit operator abruptly closed the facility two years ago, and about 150 people lost their jobs. The move set off a legal showdown between the company and the county.

Under terms of the grant, the money must be spent within three months unless the foundation agrees to an extension.

Golden LEAF was created in 1999 to help small towns and regions dependent on a declining tobacco economy.