At $30 million, the three-story, 52,000 square foot Winn Community Health Center (or “Trinity” as it’s known in its multi-parish service area) will be an impressive addition to West Lafayette Street.
And following the groundbreaking ceremony that was held Tuesday, April 2, local residents can expect to see a lot of construction activity on the site over the next 18 months, the projected time for construction. TBA Studio Architecture of Bossier is the project architect while Ratcliff Construction of Alexandria is the general contractor.
Despite rains that fell in the morning and during the opening portions of the 11 a.m. ceremony, a good crowd gathered under the large canopy set up in front of the Health Center office. CEO Deano Thornton welcomed the crowd to the “historic occasion” and Rev. Joel Hines echoed those thoughts in the opening prayer by saying it marks “a new chapter in health for many.”
Thornton who has worked in a number of community roles including mayor described this as the most complicated (financial) packages he’s ever worked on when it came to putting together money with bank loans and the leverage of state and federal tax credits to come up with the high dollar funding. “I believe this building…with elevators and escalators…will be here to serve our community for many years beyond us who are here today. Our mission is to provide access to quality healthcare despite one’s ability to pay.”
He went on to say that the groundbreaking was “a big day, marking a 20-year journey for me, while July 1 will be the 15th anniversary for the Health Center itself.” Starting small in Winn, the center has grown to include Grant, Bienville, Lincoln, Rapides, Avoyelles and perhaps another soon. Thornton mentioned 130,000 patient visits and 39 school-based clinics.
Board chairman Ellen Russell credited the accomplishments to a “labor of love” by Thornton. As a retired educator, she focused on the 39 school-based clinics that provide not only routine healthcare for children but also dentistry, behavioral health and looking to expand to other areas.
Mayor Gerald Hamms expressed his appreciation to the Health Center team for putting together this package then seeing it through. “It’s something definitely needed as we don’t have to put people in harm’s way on the road to find service.”
TBA Studio Architecture Bossier VP Lisa Peddy Frontaura observed that “there is something special about a small town.” The Winn native added “it has been a pleasure to be part of this project where often you can get things done quickly. Working with Deano and Ratcliff Construction has been a collaborative effort.”
Robert Ratcliff, chairman of the board for the general contracting firm, has seen many projects all over the south through his years. (One early work by his father was the old Winn Parish Courthouse in 1927). He described this as “state of the art, a vision beyond what I’ve seen before that is perhaps the future of rural health care.”
Members of the WCHC board are Ellen Russell, Kaye Pyles, Katina Smith, Stanley Kind, Brent Hubbard, Michelle Carpenter, Lanika Walker, June Melton, Andre Bass, Glenda Melton, Toni McAllister, Brenda Jones and Cindy Jamison. LCHC boards also included Josh McAllister, Jerald Hamms, Katie Parnell, Matt Walton and Mallorie Garner.
Thornton summarized that “good things happen when you surround yourself with good people.” By this time, the rains had passed and the sky was clearing as the groundbreaking team made their way out to where 20 shovels awaited some ceremonial photos. Then the CEO called to the Health Center employs and, surrounded by these good people, he posed for another picture.
