Tester Secures $38 Million for New Rural Hospital in White Sulphur Springs

USDA loan funding to replace Mountainview Medical Center, serve nearly 1,900 Montanans

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $38,250,000 in USDA Rural Development loan funding to replace and renovate Mountainview Medical Center in White Sulphur Springs as a result of his 2018 Farm Bill.

“As a third-generation farmer who still proudly calls rural Montana home, I know that access to high-quality affordable health care is critical to the success of communities like White Sulphur Springs,” said Tester. “If we want rural Montana to remain vibrant, then we need to continue investing in critical infrastructure like hospitals and schools to strengthen communities. I was proud to fight for this important funding to support essential services in rural communities and will continue to fight for the rural development program as we draft the 2023 Farm Bill.”

The investment secured by Tester will be used to build a 45,800 square foot replacement hospital on 9.8 acres of land in White Sulphur Springs, Montana and will serve 1,891 Montanans. The new Mountainview Medical Center will feature 25 inpatient beds, providing rural Meagher County residents with much-needed acute and nursing home care services. Its design features a central circulation corridor that allows for easy wayfinding, overflow patient waiting, and separate public and patient departmental access. The goal of this project is to facilitate a shift to more outpatient-oriented care, replace the outdated existing facility that has been in service for more than 70 years, and continue delivering quality care to the citizens of this rural area in Montana.

Funding for the replacement of Mountainview Medical Center in White Sulphur Springs will be delivered through three USDA Rural Development Loans totaling $38,250,000. A breakdown of the loans is below:

• $30,000,000 Rural Development Guarantee Loan
• $5,250,000 Community Facilities Direct Loan
• $3,000,000 Community Facilities Direct Loan

As a third-generation farmer, Tester is committed to ensuring that the Farm Bill works for Montana’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. This year, Tester has held four in-person public listening sessions in northern and eastern Montana to hear from producers and stakeholders in Sidney, Glasgow, Plentywood, and Havre about their priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill.