Staff, sponsors, donors and contributors gathered for what the hospital called a “Topping Off” ceremony, celebrating a symbolic accomplishment.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
It is a custom that the last beam of a large construction project be painted white and signed by all those involved with the project. That’s why people filled the hallways on Tuesday at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Care in Bowman.
Staff, sponsors, donors and contributors gathered for what the hospital called a “Topping Off” ceremony, celebrating the symbolic accomplishment.
It’s not necessarily associated with the beginning or end of a construction, but with the raising of one of the highest beams, said Becky Hansen, CEO of Southwest Healthcare Services.
“This little milestone brings us one step closer to our goal,” she said.
Hansen said Matt Halleen, project manager with Mortenson Construction, mentioned the idea for the celebration.
“It’s a symbol of our collaboration … towards our goal of making life and health better for everyone in our community,” Hansen said.
The hospital project required many partnerships to make the new hospital a reality, and those were also honored during the ceremony. Dakota Community Bank, Dakota Western Bank and Wells Fargo each donated funds to the project, totaling nearly $1 million.
Ryan Taylor, USDA Rural Development state director, also announced during the event that a partnership with Slope Electric Cooperative, which is headquartered in New England, would provide the hospital project with a $1 million loan, free of interest for 10 years.
Rural electrification began in 1935, and since then the USDA still partners with both electric and telecommunication cooperatives, according to Taylor.
“(They) not only get the power to you, but support your community,” he said.
That loan adds to the USDA’s $15 million from its community facilities loan program, a 30-year, low interest loan.
The Towner resident and farmer said the last beam symbolizes many things.
The beam is a symbol of support as it helps hold up the roof, but is also supported by things like columns and walls, and those are supported by footings. “There’s a lot of partners that help hold the roof up,” he said.
He explained that’s what a hospital also symbolizes: how a community cares for each other.
“You depend on the people that work here and you depend on the facility that will allow you to get (the work) done,” he added.
The USDA Rural Development department exists to improve the quality of life in rural areas of America, as Taylor explained to the crowd. It also increases economic opportunities.
“And we do both here,” he said, referring to the Bowman hospital project.
The new hospital is about quality of life but also about economic opportunities. As the largest employer in the area, Southwest Healthcare provides many jobs and careers, and makes the town more attractive for other businesses, he explained.
As the last beam is set in place, and with roofing ongoing, the next step for the construction is work to be done on underground electrical, plumbing and slab-on grading. Walls will stand once those items are complete, within the next three months.
The move-in date for the new hospital is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
“We have a long way to go but we’re pushing ahead of schedule right now,” Halleen said with enthusiasm.