Native clinic breaks ground

WASILLA — It’s no wonder state and local officials turned out in force to watch or participate in Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Valley Native Primary Care Center. Judging by the turnout, the building is bound to be a big deal.

The plan calls for a 90,000-square-foot building serving 5,000 customers — expected to grow to 8,500 by 2013 — and employing 180. There will be two connected clinics with 60 exam rooms and 25 dental chairs offering general health care and specialty services care as audiology, radiology, optometry, behavioral health and a number of others. It’s a $56-million project and the clinic will have a $25 million annual operating budget.

And this might not be the end of it. The facility under construction only uses 25 percent of the land available, leaving room to expand and connect the new clinic to a similarly sized future clinic next door.

“Many people never thought that we’d get this far,” said Chickaloon Village Traditional Chief Gary Harrison.

Debra Call, president of the Knik Tribal Council, remarked on the day’s good weather, saying organizers couldn’t have asked for a better day. She recognized audience members who accompanied her on a trip to Washington, D.C., to get the project moving.

Katherine Gottlieb, president and CEO of Southcentral Foundation, which will own and operate the clinic, echoed Call’s assessment of the weather, adding that it took more than sunshine to gather everyone at the construction site on the corner of Knik-Goose Bay Road and Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

“It’s not just about the sunshine, it’s about the hard work,” she said. “It’s about the legacy, the uniting of people to pull off something as wonderful as this.”

U.S. Senator Mark Begich underlined that idea of the clinic being a legacy, saying generations of Valley residents will receive treatment there. He said it’s also a notable project for how well the different groups — tribal and various federal government agencies — worked together.

“‘Joint venture’ is an important phrase because that’s an important relationship,” Begich said.

Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell noted that the clinic will promote wellness, saying health care “is not just something you do when you’re sick.” He wished the groups well.

“Godspeed, congratulations and good luck,” he said.

Chris Mandregan, director of Alaska Area Native Health Service for the Indian Health Service, told the crowd that his agency works to improve tribal-government partnerships and access to health care for Alaska Native populations. He said locals build the facilities and IHS works to secure funding to operate them.

“The work starts for the Indian Health Service from this point forward,” Mandregan said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.