N.V. Hospital chips in for Discovery Square project

North Valley Hospital has committed $150,000 over the next five years to help renovate Columbia Falls’ Discovery Square.

Hospital officials unveiled this week their plans to create the North Valley Hospital Education and Community Center at Discovery Square.

The money will go for renovations on the lower level of the building, formerly First Citizens Bank and Glacier Bank. The remodeling will reflect the light and contemporary atmosphere at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

It is part of a plan to upgrade the overall facility into a state-of-the-art community center focused on a variety of educational programming.

The hospital’s new facility will offer health classes and seminars previously available only in Whitefish.

Educational opportunities will include courses in CPR, first aid, healthy living and education on aging. The facility will be a central location for blood drives, health fairs and immunization clinics. It will include new classrooms, an elevator and audio-visual system.

“We are excited to be a charter partner with First Best Place to bring a community-based health and wellness facility to Columbia Falls,” North Valley Hospital Board Chairman Lin Akey said.

The hospital will invest not only in the “bricks and mortar process,” he said, but in resources for expanding health education and wellness to the greater Columbia Falls area.”

Glacier Discovery Square will continue to be available to community groups during the remodeling and after construction.

For First Best Place Executive Director Barry Conger, the partnership with North Valley Hospital is just one part of a much larger master plan for Glacier Discovery Square and Columbia Falls as a whole.

“It’s an education-based facility bringing new learning opportunities to Columbia Falls,” Conger said. “This financial commitment demonstrates North Valley Hospital’s dedication to the Columbia Falls community and their continued support of this facility.”

The North Valley Hospital Education and Community Center is the first piece of a phased project to redevelop the square into a dynamic and multipurpose facility. Future phases include the development of a modern new library and information center, as well as several other community resources.

While the hospital’s funding pushes the larger project into fruition, it is still $50,000 away from reaching its $350,000 total funding requirement for the lower level.

The First Best Place is continuing a fundraising campaign. A list of gifting options is available at www.firstbestplace.org.