Pike County commissioners and visiting state and health‑care officials announced a $500,000 state grant and outlined ongoing efforts to bring a micro‑hospital and expanded urgent care services to parts of the county.

The announcement at the Aug. 6 commissioners meeting said the grant, presented by Senator Baker, has been deposited with the Greater Pike Community Foundation and increases a county medical fund to $2,500,000. Commissioners previously placed $2,000,000 of CARES/COVID relief money into a medical foundation to help attract a hospital or health system partner, officials said.

The commissioners’ office and partners described the grant as an early, “cornerstone” contribution to a larger project that county staff estimate will require roughly $30,000,000 in capital and partner investment. Senator Baker and Jeff Olson called the $500,000 the first installment in a longer fundraising and planning effort and said county leaders have met with state health officials and other stakeholders about the proposal.

“Access to quality health care close to home improves health status and outcomes for our residents,” Senator Baker said at the meeting, adding that state officials have been engaged with the county on planning and regulatory steps.

Commissioner Osterberg said the county’s $2,000,000 seed fund was established after the county received federal COVID relief and that the medical foundation meets regularly to coordinate updates from the commissioners’ office. Osterberg and other speakers said the county has engaged with Wayne Memorial and other potential providers and that the goal is to facilitate a provider’s entry, not to build or own the hospital itself.

Jeff Olson, who said he served as a board member of the Wayne Memorial Health Foundation, called the announcement “a start” and praised the commissioners’ work to secure partners and investment. Rick Little, executive director of the Greater Pike Community Foundation, thanked state and local leaders and said the foundation will steward the funds and continue fundraising.

County officials and partners also discussed two urgent care projects in the county that are proceeding without foundation funding. Commissioners said the sites are being developed by Northwell and that the providers declined county foundation money for their urgent‑care fit‑outs, noting that the cost of internal medical equipment and fit‑out can exceed the cost of the building shell.

“None of this is going toward either of those urgent cares,” a commissioner said, noting the $2.5 million in the foundation is being reserved to attract a larger medical provider and to support infrastructure and equipment needs tied to a micro‑hospital project.

Officials urged continued community support and private donations; meeting materials and a press release point interested donors to the Greater Pike Community Foundation website.

The county and partners said many steps remain: identifying additional funding partners, meeting licensing and insurance requirements, and finalizing a site and operator. No timetable for construction or opening was announced, and officials said further details will be provided as negotiations and planning proceed.

Photo and check‑presentation remarks at the meeting featured staff from local health centers and members of the medical foundation, including Charlie Gillinder, Jennifer Allison, Gail Peterson and Tina Collins, who introduced themselves during the presentation.

Officials said they will continue discussions with state agencies and potential health‑system partners and that additional fundraising and planning work is ongoing.