News Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced a $2.6 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center (NMRMC) in Chanute from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. The grant will be used to establish the Southeast Kansas Impact Center for Wellness, Education, and Business and is expected to create 256 jobs and generate $45 million in private investment.

“This grant is an investment in the people and economy of southeast Kansas, creating hundreds of jobs, improving telehealth services and providing important resources for workforce training,” said Senator Jerry Moran. “Thank you to the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center for leading the charge on this initiative and the many health care providers and local businesses willing to work in partnership to bring this project to a reality. As the lead Republican on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, I will continue to support the ongoing and critical mission of the Economic Development Administration to assist the economic activity of our communities, especially during this pandemic.”

“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “The new Southeast Kansas Impact Center for Wellness, Education, and Business will house a workforce training center that will be run in partnership with local businesses and clinic and telehealth facilities that will allow NMRMC to meet rapidly growing telehealth provider needs.”

The EDA grant will assist in the demolition of an existing, blighted former tuberculosis hospital located adjacent to NMRMC and the construction of the new Impact Center on the site. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, which EDA funds to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs. The grant will be matched with $650,000 in local investment.

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