Sho-Ban Community Health Center breaks ground on new facility
A rendering of the new Community Health Center floor plan. (Submitted photos)
FORT HALL — The groundbreaking of the Shoshone-Bannock Community Health Center (SBCHC) was May 7 at its new location south of the Fort Hall Indian Health Center.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Planning Director Alonzo Coby facilitated the event. Chairman LeeJuan Tendoy blessed the land and gave an opening prayer then sang a prayer song. Four members of the Fort Hall Business Council were in attendance and gave opening remarks, Chairman LeeJuan Tendoy, Ladd Edmo, Devon Boyer, and Ronald Todd Appenay. Miss Shoshone-Bannock Dystnee Rope gave a welcome followed by HRSA Director Chris Waterhouse recognized and thanked everyone who made this possible. Ben Ledford from Myers Anderson Architects and Garrett Goldade from CM Company spoke. Then members of the FBHC, Chris Waterhouse, Miss Sho-Ban, and representatives from construction and architecture broke ground for the new facility.
Fort Hall Business Council members, along with Miss Sho-Ban Dystnee Rope and Community Health Center staff at the new groundbreaking site on May 7.
The new facility is approximately 5,367 square feet including six modern exam rooms, a pharmacy, conference room, waiting area, lab, counselor office, office space, ambulatory bay and more. The new facility will allow for more job opportunities because of the potential of offering more specialty services. The existing location is a shared space in the old Indian Health Service clinic (Building 70 on Navajo Road) since 2015. Waterhouse says the new location will be easier for people to find them and make people feel better to come to a new place.
Construction begins in early June and the estimated duration is 18 months. Myers-Anderson Architects did the design and CM Company, Inc. is the construction company.
Front exterior of the new Community Health Center by Myers – Anderson.
Waterhouse shares they received funding before the pandemic in 2019. Project funding sources include and Indian Health Service Ambulatory grant, Shoshone-Bannock Community Health Center contribution, an in-kind donation, HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) grant, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes for a total investment of $5.4 million.
Sho-Ban Community Health Center staff, FHBC members and Miss Sho-Ban break ground on the new facility site.
Currently the clinic has after hours are from noon to 8 p.m. and is open 363 days a year, only closing on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Services provided include primary, urgent care, medication assisted treatment (MAT), DOT/CDL physicals, DUI courses, podiatry, physical therapy. They serve 3,000 patients – all members of the community regardless of race or background. Waterhouse says “Come see us! Everyone is welcome and you don’t have to make an appointment.”
For more information visit https://sbthchc.org
