Pana Community Hospital (PCH) recently received a check for a $1 million zero-percent interest loan thanks to assistance from Shelby Electric Cooperative (SEC), the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and area community banks.
PCH is undertaking its largest expansion program since the 1970s and will add more than 30,000 square feet to its facility.
“Investing in the rural communities Shelby Electric Cooperative serves is at the core of why electric cooperatives were formed some 80 years ago,” said SEC President/CEO Josh Shallenberger. “This continues to be a cornerstone of the rural cooperative movement, whether through direct resource allocation or through opportunities to partner, as is the case with Pana Community Hospital and USDA’s Rural Development program. The cooperative is uniquely positioned and mission-aligned to provide such support through the REDLG program. The investment PCH and the local community banks are making to grow our rural communities and improve our quality of life are to be commended.”
“This expansion will improve access to quality healthcare not only in Pana, but much of the surrounding area,” stated Congressman Rodney Davis, who was on hand for the check presentation. “Partnerships, like the one between Shelby Electric and Pana Community Hospital, through the USDA REDLG program, help our rural communities thrive and greatly improve the quality of life for the residents. I am honored to be a part of this project and look forward to serving the community for years to come.”
