MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – According to a preliminary economic analysis, the construction of the new Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital (HMH) on East Hill Road will result in an estimated economic impact of $89.7 million for the region by the time the project is completed in 2015.

Seventy new jobs created by the new facility will contribute an additional estimated $10.2 million annually to the community.

By 2020, after five years of operation, the total economic impact to the community will be $142 million.

“We hired MPI Companies, a business services consultant, to do an objective analysis so we could accurately assess the impact of our new hospital,” said HMH CEO Rick Bockmann. “We are delighted that the new hospital will allow us to continue to provide excellent care, plus improve the financial well-being of our community.”

The new hospital and its health care campus will not only increase the number of existing jobs by approximately 70, but will also attract additional businesses needed to support the new facility.

The overall cost of the new facility is estimated at $62 million, almost $3 million of which has been raised by local community members, and just over $4 million of which will come from the city of Willits.

The bulk of the funding comes from hospital funds accumulated during years of strong operational performance and other Adventist Health contributions.

“This fundraising has been a group effort. Without the support of each of the players, this hospital could not be built. I am especially grateful to Adventist Health, which has not only contributed significant dollars to build the hospital, but will lease the space on which the new hospital is built,” Bockmann said. “This will allow us to provide care for our community for future generations.”

Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is a member of Adventist Health's Northern California Network, which provides innovative community, specialty, and destination health care.

Other members of the network include Ukiah Valley Medical Center and the St. Helena Region of hospitals.