Ken Morris, president and chief executive officer of Brooks-TLC Hospital System, speaks in March at a community forum.

New York state’s budget, which was passed last week, offered nothing definitive regarding funding for the building of a new Brooks-TLC Hospital System facility in Fredonia. That, however, has not dimmed the spirits of the leadership team at the facility or state leaders.

Ken Morris, Brooks-TLC president and chief executive officer, said in an interview this week he remained upbeat on the project and was reaching out to the major employers in the north business community for their support on the construction. Land for the site on East Main Street across from the Fredonia Central School main campus was purchased by Brooks-TLC last June with a small piece of funding coming from Albany to close the deal.

“It is our understanding that all unused capital dollars for hospitals and health care have been re-appropriated in the recently passed New York state budget,” Morris said in a statement Friday. “We are also very encouraged by the Safety Net Transformation Program proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and included in the recently passed budget. This new program should provide access to that appropriated funding for capital investments that are designed to improve and modernize healthcare delivery, including dollars for a new hospital here in Chautauqua County.”

Plans for the proposed structure include that would replace the outdated location at 529 Central Ave. in Dunkirk call for emergency services with 12 bays, 15 medical and surgical beds, four surgical suites and two rooms for procedure, imaging with CT scans, MRI and ultrasound, stat lab services, a pharmacy, support services and a helipad. Morris, during a community forum in March, said a downsized facility would help rein in expenses while possibly reducing annual deficits from $23 million in 2023 to a projection of $671,000 by 2030.

“Our project focus since funding was first appropriated in 2016, has been and remains, the improvement and modernization of healthcare delivery in the most fiscally responsible way possible,” Morris said. “The new hospital is the means to that end. Our cautious optimism continues and accordingly, we continue to work with the Gov. Hochul’s office, the state Department of Health, elected officials and community partners to bring this vision to fruition. In addition to this, our efforts are ongoing with Kaleida Health, GPPC, UBMD, UB Neurosurgery and others, to recruit new providers and retain those who have established relationships with our community. It is our commitment to provide high value care and much-needed services to keep care close to home.”

Area state leaders also continue to make their push for the significant health-care project for the Dunkirk-Fredonia region. State Sen. George Borrello sees a bit of progress but also noted frustration in getting more than $70 million targeted in 2016 and 2017 for the effort released.

“While negotiations with the governor and Department of Health continue, it is important to point out during the budget process that nearly every hospital in New York state is under fiscal stress and much of the support is going to New York City hospitals,” Borrello said. “This is disappointing because it also coincides with an additional $2.4 billion to New York City for their self-inflicted migrant crisis.”

State Assemblyman Andrew Gooodell, in a communication on Friday, said he “will be reaching out to our budget staff to urge the state to move forward, both to save money with the new hospital and to free up the old site for tax paying redevelopment.”

Additionally, Kaleida Health has reiterated its support for the new hospital in Fredonia. Brooks-TLC would become an affiliate of the largest healthcare provider in Western New York once the project gets moving. Mike Hughes, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Kaleida, believes a finish line is in sight.

“I think more than anything this (Hochul) administration is listening and has heard from the community and understands the concerns,” he said in March during the community forum at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.

One other key cog in the hospital discussion this week was State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. During his stop at the Fredonia campus earlier this week, he spoke of the importance of the building. “I am aware of the need for more access to health care in the region,” he said.

SUNY Fredonia, with enrollment under 3,000 students during the spring semester, has offered its support to Brooks-TLC as well. A report done by the hospital last fall noted if a new facility is not built, SUNY Fredonia would be one of nine SUNY campuses without a hospital in the immediate area.