By KinstonPress.com
Posted: 6:45 PM EST Thursday May 11, 2006
The economic boost Kinston needs is sitting right now on desks in the General Assembly.
Veterans need skilled-care nursing homes, Gov. Mike Easley says, and Kinston is one of two places he wants to build them.
Easley is asking legislators to build two 100-bed skilled nursing care centers for the state's veterans. One center would be in Kinston and the other in Asheville. The total budget for the two centers would be $25 million. The state would pay $8.8 million and the federal government would contribute $16.3 million.
"Approximately 40 percent of the state's 770,000 veterans are over the age of 65, and many are projected to need long-term health care in the near future," Easley said in his capitol improvements plan.
The plan is part of the governor's recommended budget adjustments for 2006-07, and has been sent to legislators.
George Graham, chairman of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, said he talked about the center with state officials about a year ago. He is pleased that Easley has made the proposal.
"I haven't been in direct discussions with the governor's office or Health and Human Services, but with what I know about this type thing, I would say you're probably looking at 500 jobs or more," Graham said. "This facility would be open 24/7 days. I don't know what specialties will be provided, or the ratio (of employees to patients). It will be a substantial impact on the county and the surrounding area, and Eastern North Carolina. It's what I call "big."
The state owns several vacant pieces of property in Lenoir County, but it is unclear whether one of the presently owned sites, or a new one, would be selected for the center.
State legislators from this area are prepared to push for the center, Graham said. He has talked with state Sen. Charlie Albertson and state Rep. William Wainwright and both are behind it, he said.
"I'll be proud to support it," state Rep. Stephen LaRoque said. "We need to help our veterans. They risked their lives for us. We need to make sure they're well taken care of in their later years."
Kinston Councilman Joe Tyson is a veteran of the Vietnam War. Most men and women who fought in that war are in or nearing their 60s, he said, and many still suffer from post-traumatic syndrome.
"I applaud this," Tyson said. "The other facility we have is in Fayetteville. … It would be good here because have a lot of veterans in this area. It would be not only good for veterans, but it would be good for the economy."
The state's budget surplus is proving to be a big help, Kinston City Manager Ralph Clark said.
The city is considering extending Carey Road to U.S. 258, if the state will grant a right-of-way, Clark said. That road would run right through a large state-owned parcel and could be a bonus when a site for the nursing center is selected.
"Five hundred jobs is a lot of money, particularly when you're looking at skilled nursing people," Clark said. "About 60 percent or above would be earning $30,000 a year plus. The economy would just keep rolling."
Tyson is hoping the medical community would be able to convince the center's doctors and nurses to make their homes in Kinston instead of living in Greenville or New Bern. The new housing development near Vernon Park Mall might be coming just in time, he said.
"I'm going to lead the bandwagon (for the nursing center)," Tyson said. "In fact, I'll get out and push it!" |
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