FLORENCE–
Members of the committee to redeploy Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital
after the construction of the replacement facility is complete are seeking the input of residents in
the neighborhoods around ECM.
Individuals are asked to gather at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church
on Monday, July 14. Parking and the entrance are on Tennessee Street.
“As a committee, we need to hear from residents who will be affected by the vacation of the site
where ECM stands,” said Van Morgan, the chairman of the committee that also includes
Florence Mayor Mickey Haddock, First District Councilman Dick Jordan, Second District
Councilman Dave Smith, ECM Chief Executive Officer Russell Pigg, University of North
Alabama Interim President John Thornell, Downtown Florence Unlimited President Andy Mann,
and DFU Secretary Michelle Eubanks.
“While there is some opposition to the new facility, it’s time for residents, the city, Lauderdale
County, and the committee to begin looking toward a future when ECM is no longer in the first
district,” Morgan said.
Architect rendering of proposed new hospital to be located in Florence.
Architect rendering of proposed new hospital to be located in Florence.
RegionalCare Hospital Partners, as part of its purchase of ECM, ECM East and Shoals Hospital,
in 2010, committed to the construction of a replacement facility to take the place of ECM
Hospital, which is aging and in need of costly repairs. RegionalCare has already invested more
than $30 million in ECM in order to maintain the facility during the interim.
With a $250 million price tag, the new hospital construction project stands to be the largest
economic development project in the Shoals since the building of Wilson Dam in the early
1900s. Further, the overall economic impact of the hospital project would be around $1 billion
during the construction phase, which would create jobs in the immediate and long-term future.
Residents who attend the meeting are asked to bring their ideas on ways the acreage that
currently houses ECM could be used in the future.
MEDIA RELEASE/For details about the meeting, please contact Michelle Rupe Eubanks at 256-386-1808 or
mreubanks@chgroup.org.
