Rural hospitals across America have been closing and scaling back,crushed by the current health care economics. In Riverton, Wyoming, they’re fighting that trend in a big way with a new $66 million hospital project.

Riverton is building a new 71,000-square-foot hospital that will offer state-of-the-art primary, acute, emergency and specialty care services, as well as 24/7 surgical and emergency capability, for a region with about 22,000 people.

Part of the total $66 million is for operating funds while the new nonprofit, independent hospital ramps up its services. About $57 million is for building the new facility from the ground up.

Funding includes a $37 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; a $1 million Community Facilities Emergency Rural Health Care Grant from USDA

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