Thank you for your Town Hall participation!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the town hall listening sessions and provided feedback for the proposed Northern Cass Health and Wellness Center. The Northern Cass Health and Wellness Center Task Force, which led these sessions, has wrapped up and an Advisory Group has been meeting to move this work forward and ensure this is, first and foremost, a community project. Here are a few updates on the project:
Essentia Health has pledged funding and will partner with Northern Cass to build a medical clinic on the school grounds.
Essentia Health has designed the medical clinic and architects are working on a draft plan for the entire wellness center building which will include the medical clinic footprint. The cost of the project has been identified and ‘drawings’ will be completed by Friday, April 28th which will be shared with the public soon.
A nonprofit will be formed to oversee the center, the Board of which will make guiding decisions on the project. The Board will be composed of community members, Northern Cass school board members, an Essentia Health representative, a school staff representative, and local business representatives. We have a majority of the Board identified and will finalize this in the next two weeks.
Several initial funders have been identified and a fundraising campaign plan is being organized. The fundraising campaign will officially begin on July 1st.
The school team has been working on grants for programs and services in the center. If awarded, we will communicate that through the school’s social media, weekly memo and the Community Center Task Force Facebook page.
You may have noticed quite a few lines to the effect of “more information to come.” This is a large, wonderful and very complex undertaking which includes many voices. The goal is that while working within an ambitious timeline, we still make sure to take the time needed to incorporate as much community input as possible. Not every recommendation will make it into the final plan but please know this project is meant for everyone and all input is being taken into serious consideration.
When the advisory group goes out to talk to potential partners and investors, they are presenting the collective dream of vibrant and thriving communities we call home. We envision a Northern Cass Health and Wellness Center as a place of welcoming where all community members have easy access to healthcare, learning and a sense of community. Please look for more details and updates over the summer. Thank you for being a part of this big, bold dream!
If you have questions, please reach out to Dr. Steiner, Paige Carlson or Amber Lockhart.
