Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday made some major announcements in Chautauqua County.
The governor joined local leaders and Kaleida Health for a beam signing event at the future site of the Northern Chautauqua Hospital. Funded in part with $124 million from New York state, Hochul says the hospital is expected to open in Fredonia in 2029.
She also says the 132,000-square-foot facility is meant to increase access to emergency, inpatient and outpatient healthcare in the Southern Tier, in addition to upgrading medical equipment and technology.
“They will not have to drive the 50 minutes to Buffalo unless they need specialized care or 55 minutes to Erie, Pennsylvania, in the middle of an emergency,” said Hochul. “But also, this is about the professionals whose jobs these are. We are able to protect the 300 jobs that are so important.”
Later, the governor helped break ground on 78 new affordable homes at the Homesteads at Dunkirk Landing.
Hochul says that development includes supportive housing for veterans living with disabilities or struggling with homelessness.
“We signed the beam for a new hospital here in Northern Chautauqua. I want to say this as well, what that means for this community is that not just the local residents can be guaranteed the highest quality healthcare, but for our local businesses. And we’re trying to help even more come and grow and expand,” she said. “They look at questions like, ‘Is there a well-served, state-of-the-art healthcare facility for our employees?’ And if the answer is no, the community’s not going to be the beneficiary of their investments either. So it all ties together.
“But now, leaving that great project to build this project, to break ground on 78 new affordable homes is extraordinary. Two very different projects, but both reflecting something’s going on here. There’s a momentum here, and there’s people, whether they’re locals or outside developers, who see the potential of this area, and that is to be celebrated.”