Hochul hails progress at new Brooks-TLC site
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A new northern Chautauqua County hospital is becoming a reality.
On Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul joined hospital leadership, community stakeholders and local officials today for a beam signing ceremony at the site for the new Northern Chautauqua Hospital, which will open in Fredonia in 2029. Today's announcement builds on Hochul's historic investments in New York's health care system through significant capital and operating support that strengthen safety net hospitals statewide, in addition to securing the largest Medicaid rate increases in decades.
"Every New Yorker deserves access to essential health services whenever and wherever they need them," Hochul said. "This announcement marks a significant victory for Chautauqua County and its community. We're continuing to invest in economic expansion and a state-of-the-art healthcare facility is crucial to support this growth. This new facility will provide the quality of care our residents deserve. I commend our hospital leaders and community stakeholders for their hard work and partnership in making today happen."
The new 15 bed hospital will be over 132,000 square feet and improve access to emergency, inpatient and outpatient care to residents living in Northern Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie counties. Plans include upgrading medical equipment and technology to deliver advanced health care with a more efficient and sustainable facility to provide care.
Kaleida Health President and CEO Don Boyd said, "Today is a historic day for Northern Chautauqua County and the surrounding region. The future Northern Chautauqua Hospital represents our shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality, compassionate care close to home. We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul for her unwavering support of this transformative project, and we thank the residents of Chautauqua County and our community partners whose advocacy, perseverance and belief in this vision helped make this day possible. By leveraging the Kaleida Health network, we are creating stronger connections to specialized services across Western New York, while ensuring patients and families can receive exceptional care in their own community for generations to come."
Hochul committed $124 million to finance the construction of this new hospital, over 50% of the total project cost. Today's announcement is also enabled by the Safety Net Transformation Program included in the Governor's budget to encourage partnerships that improve the resilience of safety-net institutions by providing strategic capital and operating support, in addition to required regulatory flexibility. Through this project, Kaleida Health received a $371 million award ($50 million of which is dedicated for the Northern Chautauqua Hospital). Kaleida Health's broader Safety Net Transformation award will help the health system formalize partnerships with two additional rural hospitals in Western New York (Olean General and Bertrand Chaffee), and make critical infrastructure and modernization upgrades in these rural hospitals to enable greater efficiency and improved continuity of care throughout Western New York.
Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Inc. President and CEO Kenneth Morris said, "Today's milestone reflects the determination of a community that never stopped believing in the need for access to exceptional healthcare close to home. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Kaleida Health, our former and current Board of Directors, employees, providers, union partners, and the residents of this community who -- together -- have been steadfast advocates in moving this project forward. While we're celebrating the progress of a new 133,000-square-foot hospital, what matters most is what it will mean for our patients: expanded access to advanced healthcare services, a more connected and seamless experience for patients and families, and a healthier future for the entire community."