Joe Kleinknecht of the Galion Area Chamber of Commerce said the improvements will help the city grow. "I think it will definitely will have an impact," he said. "We're going to see some good growth." Other construction projects in the area include four schools and U.S. 30 expansion, which is bringing $75 million in construction to Galion, he said.

The hospital's plan calls for a state-of-the-art emergency room and ICU, which should help to bring more professionals to the area, he said. Many doctors and nurses want to work with the latest technology, which the hospital has been working to bring to Crawford County.

Dr. Nick Baird, director of the Ohio Department of Health, was at the ceremony and talked about how health care has changed in the past 25 years. Galion Community Hospital is following suit by working with the community to bring state-of-the-art care, he said. "It really is something the community needs to be proud of," he said. He said he was amazed that with community help, the hospital raised $1.9 million of the project through donations.

Marge McCumber, who was elected to the Galion School Board Nov. 4, said by having the state-of-the-art health-care facility, it shows Galion is moving forward. "To me, it all mixes together and leads to an exciting time," she said. "Galion is not dead; Galion is moving ahead."

jkowalesk @ nncogannett.com
(419) 521-7232

News article from The Mansfield News Journal, published Thursday, November 13, 2003