Hospitals are the backbone of many rural communities. They provide essential healthcare services and jobs. When a hospital closes, it can have a devastating impact on the community.
The closing of McKenzie Regional Hospital in 2018 was a blow to the local economy of Carroll County, Tennessee. Cachengo® ultimately took over the space. Because of hospitals’ electrical infrastructure, the site was a perfect fit for a technology business like this, says Cachengo® CEO, Ash Young. Young says Cachengo® is now looking into repurposing abandoned hospitals and buildings across the country.
Jill Holland, McKenzie’s former mayor and a local-government and special-projects coordinator for the Southwest Tennessee Development District, believes the town can become a technology hub.
“It’s opening a lot of doors of opportunity for the youth in the community”
This article discusses the negative effects of rural hospital closures and some of the creative ways communities have found to reuse these empty buildings. Click here to read the entire article.