Kossuth Regional Health Center (KRHC) and the Bancroft Community Foundation are celebrating two decades of partnership as the KRHC Board of Trustees renews its 20-year lease for the Bancroft Clinic and EMS facility.
The original lease was signed 20 years ago in conjunction with the construction of the new Bancroft Clinic, which was completed in 2006. The project brought together the Bancroft Community Foundation, City of Bancroft, KRHC Board of Trustees and KRHC Foundation with a shared goal of supporting access to quality health care in the community.
Ellengray Kennedy, president of the Bancroft Community Foundation, also served as president when the clinic was built and the original lease was signed. She said reaching the 20-year milestone is an opportunity to celebrate both the success of the original partnership and its continuation.
“This is such a wonderful example of collaboration between the Bancroft Community Foundation, City of Bancroft, KRHC Board of Trustees and KRHC Foundation,” Kennedy said. “What everyone was able to accomplish by coming together to deliver quality rural health care is amazing. I am so thrilled that the first 20 years have been successful for everyone involved, and that we can continue this partnership for the next 20 years.”
“We are working together to deliver health care to a much broader region, and it is so important for people in this area to have access to quality care close to home,” Kennedy continued. “This is truly a celebration and an example of what can happen when a community brings its resources together and works toward a common goal.”
For 20 years, the Bancroft Clinic facility has represented a shared investment in the health and vitality of Bancroft and the surrounding communities. The renewed lease continues that commitment and the partnership established when the facility opened in 2006.
As part of the lease agreement, a portion of the rent paid by KRHC is set aside for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the facility, helping protect the community’s investment in the building for years to come. Recent improvements have included new flooring, a new roof and new concrete outside the facility.
“Twenty years ago, community leaders came together around a shared vision for the future of health care in Bancroft, and we are incredibly grateful for the partnership and support the community has shown KRHC ever since. Access to quality healthcare close to home is so important to the strength of our rural communities. As we celebrate what this partnership has accomplished over the past 20 years, we are equally excited to look ahead and continue our commitment to Bancroft and the surrounding area for the next 20 years,” stated Tom Geelan, KRHC Board Chair.
