Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital

Laurel Health System (LHS) is a nonprofit charitable organization providing a comprehensive range of services to the residents of Tioga County, Pennsylvania and surrounding communities. LHS’s network is anchored by Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital (SSMH), an 83-bed community hospital located in historic downtown Wellsboro and the only acute-care hospital in Tioga County. SSMH also operates the only emergency department (ED) within a 50-mile radius, providing emergency care for residents throughout the region. SSMH’s ED volume has grown steadily over the last 15 years and today far outpaces capacity - the current ED treats 15,000+ patients each year with only nine patient bays. LHS recognized the critical need for a campus expansion at SSMH, but amidst the challenging financial environment, needed assistance to press forward with the project.

LHS hired Delta to develop and oversee a comprehensive public funding strategy to advance a $13.1 million, 50,900-square-foot expansion project at SSMH. Delta recommended that LHS seek public funding through the Commonwealth’s Infrastructure and Facilities Improvement Program (IFIP). The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development and provides multi-year grants to help offset debt service payments made in connection with the financing of eligible projects.Working in collaboration with hospital management to secure support for the project at the local, county, and state levels, and constructing application materials, Delta managed the grant application development process on behalf of LHS.

With Delta’s assistance, the Tioga County Industrial Development Authority received a $2.04 million IFIP award on behalf of LHS to advance the campus expansion project at SSMH. This project will include relocating and expanding the emergency department to increase patient privacy, improve patient flow, expand the visitors’ area, and provide sufficient space and accommodations for anticipated volumes over the next 15 years. This project also includes new patient and ambulance access and additional space for future clinical growth, surgical services, and endoscopy. In addition, this project is projected to create seven full-time jobs and 86 construction jobs, further supporting Tioga County and the surrounding region.