SIERRA VISTA — The Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona and Cochise College have reached an agreement that paves the way for the continued beneficial use of the current Sierra Vista Regional Health Center facility after medical services relocate to a new hospital this spring.
A letter of intent approved by the college Governing Board on Tuesday states that the Legacy Foundation will donate the facility to the college, which plans a healthcare education center and downtown community services facility.
“The Legacy Foundation is extremely excited to be working with the college on reuse of the soon-to-be-vacated hospital,” said Chief Executive Officer Margaret Hepburn. “It is such a privilege to be able to contribute to the expansion of Cochise College and truly benefit the community.”
Located at 300 El Camino Real, the 93,000-square-foot space will be renovated to serve as the education center for the college’s current healthcare students, including future nurses, medical and certified nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, EMTs and paramedics. The college anticipates that there will be room to expand programming.
“The college had a conceptual design for a Nursing and Health Sciences Building on campus in order to meet demand,” said Dr. J.D. Rottweiler, Cochise College president. “This opportunity includes more space at a lower cost and allows the college to further develop its partnership with the prominent local healthcare industry. In addition, the college is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the communities it serves, and we are appreciative to the Legacy Foundation for again recognizing both the college’s quality and what it needs in order to meet this objective.”
Rottweiler also suggested the downtown presence and proximity to the business community and neighborhoods is appealing, particularly as an opportunity to consolidate community outreach programs. Though plans are not yet firm, programs like the Center for Lifelong Learning, Small Business Development Center, Center for Economic Research, and the Cochise College Foundation may be located there. The hospital’s commercial kitchen may also be ideal for the college culinary arts program, which is currently offered on Fort Huachuca.
“Cochise College is a very dynamic, sound community asset,” said Legacy Foundation Board Chair Ron Wagner. “Their vision for the property will offer significant benefit to our community with a variety of services and activities.”
The Legacy Foundation previously explored the concept of opening a veterans home in the facility, but a consulting firm concluded that establishing one was not feasible due to the size of the local population of veterans. The foundation chose instead to seek a partner that could provide community health and wellness program services.
“We are indeed fortunate to be able to engage in a win-win scenario with Cochise College,” said Legacy Foundation Committee Chair Lanny Kope. “The college’s ability to incorporate the use of the old hospital facility into its academic program provides the community with a cost-effective expansion of health-related academic programs, as well as making constructive use of a community asset.”