Bank of America announced recently that it is awarding a $250,000 grant to Mohawk Valley Health System to support the construction of a new, state-of-the-art medical center in downtown Utica.
This funding enables MVHS to replace its two aging hospital buildings with a new facility that will significantly improve patient care, including updated emergency room facilities and redesigned inpatient units.
The project is expected to break ground late this year and will be completed by 2022. This development will significantly contribute to the revival of downtown Utica by bringing jobs and residents back to what was once an important economic hub in New York state, an MVHS spokesperson said.
“As one of the largest employers in the Mohawk Valley, Bank of America is committed to the economic development and success of the region,” the spokesperson added. “Bank of America employs over 600 people in Utica, and these employees are engaged in and dedicated to the local community, volunteering over 7,000 hours annually.
“Bringing this facility to Utica’s downtown will mean a more vibrant city center where entrepreneurs will want to do business, where new shops and restaurants can open their doors, where people seek to live, and where visitors come to explore.”
The MVHS project is a critical piece of the downtown Utica rejuvenation project and will be one of the largest draws for people and businesses in the region, according to Michael Brunner, Syracuse market president for Bank of America.
“As refurbished warehouses and factories attract residents back to the downtown area, Utica and the Mohawk Valley region requires a hospital network that can ensure top-of-the-line care in a modern facility. Beyond the economic stimulus the project provides, updated and improved health care services will attract the technology companies Utica needs to continue its growth,” he noted.