ELLINWOOD — A group of regional leaders will spearhead the complex effort to build a new $22 million replacement hospital in Ellinwood. Kile Magner, CEO of the facility, said the 15 members of the team “were selected and recruited to work on the project because of their leadership, commitment, and energy.”

While most of the nuts and bolts of the design and financing has been in-house by staff and consultants, the leadership members have been addressing public relations matters, providing input from the community at large and organizing a $1,250,000 “Building a Healthy Tomorrow” Capital Campaign that is one of the keys to financing the new campus.

Members of the Leadership Committee include Jon Prescott, Marvin Sessler, Rod Weber, Rob Dove, Troy Moore, Justin Joiner, Mel Waite, Kristy Rupe, Karen Sessler, Brittney Bailey, Marian DeWerff, Donna Mason, Meredith Joiner, Robin Durrett and Lloyd Kurtz, along with Magner.

“These people have already invested huge amounts of time and energy into this effort but we still have much to do to make sure this very important project is successfully completed,” Magner explained, “and priority to that component of the overall financing plan.”

The application for the financing through the Rural Development programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is very near completion. The loan will be secured through revenue bonds which will ensure that taxes within the district will not be increased.

Magner said the loan application has been underway for “several months” and that the completion of the process is expected to be this summer. The construction process will take place over a 2.5-year period.