Politics & Government

News Analysis: Centegra Hospital To Be A Boon to Huntley

New hospital expected to bring $152 million to local economy.

Michael Fisher was excited to learn Centegra Health System won approval for a Huntley hospital, even though he lives in Crystal Lake.

“We absolutely need more facilities out here,” he said, having lunch with his three daughters and his mom, who lives in Huntley. Centegra Hospital-Huntley will be closer to his own home, he said.

Centegra Health System received approval this week from the Illinois Health Facilities Services and Review Board for a 128-bed hospital at Haligus and Reed roads.

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Businessman Jim Drendel, whose family has been in Huntley for a generation, also was happy to hear the news this week. It’s a good fit for Huntley, especially with the population at Sun City, he said.

While the hospital will fill a need for hospital beds in southern McHenry County and northern Kane County, it will have other benefits for Huntley.

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Centegra Hospital-Huntley is expected to pump $152 million into the local economy, according to Centegra. There will be 800 construction jobs created and 1,100 new Centegra positions added.

There could be additional benefits for Huntley. Other communities with similar projects, like New Lenox where the new Silver Cross Hospital was built, have seen a new demand for medical offices and restaurants, Huntley Village Manager Dave Johnson said.

“We hope to see some additional retail opportunities, restaurants, and maybe even a hotel,” Johnson said.

A Centegra hospital also will be a draw for families and the village’s housing market, said Rita Slawek, president of the Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s going to (benefit) realtors because (one of the) first things people ask is where’s the closest hospital,” she said.

Slawek said having a hospital in the community will also be beneficial for corporations looking to move into town whose employees will have access to the hospital.

Centegra is the latest piece of an economic puzzle that will help Huntley. Slawek said the Route 47 widening project and the Route 47 and Interstate 90 full interchange are other key factors for the village.

“It’ s great for the community,” she said.

This week’s news also gives Huntley more leverage in recruiting news businesses to the village.

“The combination of the infrastructure _ from the Route 47 widening to the interchange_ to this project really magnifies the fact important investments have been made in our community,” Johnson said. “It signifies there is certainly a desire to invest in our community. (Huntley) is not stagnant, we are not sitting here idle.”


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