By Andrea Cordle
Southwest Editor
At the June 20 meeting, Grove City council approved a revised economic and development agreement with Mount Carmel Health System.
The amended agreement involves the city contributing $6 million toward the cost of a parking garage for the hospital.
Mount Carmel currently operates a 37,000 square foot emergency department on North Meadows Drive. The company plans to expand its Grove City campus by adding a 500,000 square foot hospital that includes more than 200 beds. The plan also includes adding a 125,000 square foot medical office building.
This expansion is a $355 million investment in the city. It is estimated that the hospital will add approximately 1,500 jobs in the area.
Councilman and finance chair Jeff Davis said the city would receive $3 million in income tax during construction of the hospital and $2 million in income tax each year once the hospital is up and running.
“This is a big investment in the city,” said Davis. “They will be the largest private employer in the city.”
Per the economic and development agreement, the city and company agreed to construct a visitor’s parking garage on the site that would include space for more than 300 vehicles.
According to Davis, the city will pay $1 million this year. The city will have to pay the remaining $5 million before December 2017.
Parking will be free to patrons. The hospital expansion project is estimated to be complete in 2018.
