Work continues on the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Progress on the recovery center coming to Benton and Franklin counties continues. The Columbia Valley Center for Recovery is in its last few stages before construction begins.

The Benton-Franklin Behavioral Health and Advisory committee is working to make this recovery center a reality. The team has been busy since the purchase of the old Kennewick General Hospital , and Welch’s Grape Warehouse in Kennewick.

According to committee member, John Roach, more than $23 million have been raised for capital investment for the project through the state and federal grants, along with the efforts of the counties and the Tri-Cities Recovery Coalition . In addition to that is the roughly $10 million generated through the 1/10 of 1% sales tax in Benton County and Franklin County.

Roach said, when it comes to the operating fund, the idea is for the sales tax to be a part of that, along with insurance.

“The idea is that for many of these services, they will be reimbursable through Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies, and hopefully the bulk of those services will be reimbursable in that way, and then what the 1/10 of 1% does for us, is it gives us the ability to shore up those gaps where that institutional funding won't cover it and to be able to offer those services and give us the ability to create that true ‘No Wrong Door’ policy,” said Roach.

The advisory committee has also been working with Doug Hughes, a Dean at Columbia Basin College, according to Roach. They’re working together to bring back the Substance Use Disorder Professional Certification program to the college, something that may bring more healthcare professionals to the region.

“There's a hundred new jobs associated with opening this facility,” stated Roach. “And some of those are jobs for whom there aren't enough people in the Tri-Cities with the necessary certification. So, CBC, after a 15-roughly-year hiatus of not offering the SUDP certification, will be restarting that program in the fall.” More details on this potential partnership are expected to come at a later time.

The committee will be seeing the proposed layout of the KGH building, and where potential services will be located, according to Roach. The layout process has been a collaboration between service provider Comprehensive Healthcare and contractor Bouten Construction . Once the layout is confirmed and dialed in, that’s when the committee will know what services will be available, and when. Roach also said the prospective opening date will be in 2025 , although it’s not known right now exactly when that will be.

Roach says if you’re interested in getting involved, you can find information here .

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