PELL CITY — The St. Clair County Economic Development Council deeded 27 acres Thursday to the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs as the site for a nursing home.“It comes during a great week when we are honoring our veterans,” said Tommy Bowers, chairman of the St. Clair County EDC. “I think it’s very fitting to have the agreement in place and signed this week.”
Veterans from across the county commemorated Veterans Day Tuesday, and the agreement to bring a state-of-the-art, $40 million VA nursing home to Pell City was signed Thursday. The transfer of land was officially done Thursday at the St. Clair County EDC office located inside Jefferson State Community College.
The veterans nursing home property is located near the college on a 160-acre tract of land, where a new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital and possibly a new Jefferson State Community College nursing school are planned.
“This is a great day for Alabama veterans,” said Clyde Marsh, commissioner of the ADVA. “I salute the St. Clair County Commission, the city of Pell City and the Economic Development Council on behalf of the 420,000 veterans in our great state. By granting this deed and transferring 27 acres of land, you are allowing the ADVA to move forward with the planning and future construction of a state-of-the-art veterans home that will provide long-term care for our veterans.”
Ed Gardner Jr., director for the EDC, said the ADVA could break ground on the $40 million facility within nine to12 months.
He said the ADVA considered several locations before selecting Pell City as the home for its 280-bed facility.
Gardner said the new facility is expected to be a model for others to follow, saying it’s going to be a “green” campus with a more relaxing home feel to it for veterans.
He said the facility will also provide more than 200 new jobs.
“All of the projects there on this property will move St. Clair County forward by providing the needs and increasing the quality of life for all of its citizens,” Gardner said. “The St. Clair County Commission and the city of Pell City worked hard to make this a success. Without their cooperation and forward thinking, we would not be where we are today.”
County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon welcomed the ADVA and its new nursing home to St. Clair County Thursday.
“The new VA nursing home facility is an exciting announcement for St. Clair County and the city of Pell City,” Batemon said. “We are glad they have chosen our location, and we will do everything we can to meet the needs of those who will receive care in this facility. With the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital next door and new program offerings at the Jefferson State campus, we are developing a center for health care that will meet the needs for the St. Clair County community.”
Mayor Bill Hereford also welcomed the ADVA and its new VA nursing home to Pell City.
“It’s a wonderful thing for the veterans in our area and Alabama, and it’s a wonderful thing for the community, no doubt about it,” Hereford said.
He said the new VA nursing home will complement the work done by the college and the proposed new hospital — which will both be nearby.
“The three are made for each other,” Hereford said.
