By VINCENT CORSO
vcorso@centrecountygazette.com
PHILIPSBURG — A new headquarters and training center for Moshannon Valley Emergency Medical Services is one step closer to reality with a little help from the county.
MVEMS plans to construct the 9,900-square-foot ambulance and training headquarters at the site of the former Philipsburg Area Hospital in North Philipsburg.
On July 12, county commissioners agreed to sign a match commitment letter for a $300,000 grant from Appalachian Regional Commission grant to help fund the project.
EMS Chief Wes Cartwright said the much-needed project has been in the works for six years.
“The facility we have … we have currently outgrown. When we first moved into the facility, we had two ambulances and we ran about 900 calls a year,” said Cartwright
“We are now at five vehicles and about to get six. And, we are running more than 1,400 calls a year.”
He said the EMS’s current facility, located just off Front Street in Philipsburg, has no more room for expansion.
The EMS primarily serves both Centre and Clearfield counties, and its services sometimes stretch as far as the Quehanna Boot Camp to the north and Glen Hope to the south.
“So, there is a huge area that we cover and many municipalities, so, we are hoping to get some additional municipal support to help support the services that we provide there,” said Cartwright.
MVEMS bought the 2.3 acres of land for the facility in 2020.
Back in April, the project was awarded a $1 million state grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
“I know the wonderful work that the folks at Moshannon Valley EMS do for our communities, so when I had the chance to help them find funding for their new ambulance facility, I went to bat for them — just like they do for us every day,” said State Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Philipsburg) when he announced the grant.
“MVEMS provides a critical service to the people of Philipsburg and the surrounding communities and I want to thank everyone who has worked on this project.”
The facility will include office space; training room; a staff fitness room; a service documentation room; staff lounge and kitchenette; sleeping rooms for six staff members; and garage space for up to eight vehicles.
