John Scarffe, Idaho Springs. Clear Creek County officials broke ground for the new Clear Creek County Collaborative Care Center on October 19, 2020, in Idaho Springs. “The momentum surrounding the Collaborative Care Center stems from a hard-fought and resilient effort from a variety of stakeholders to arrive at this moment,” according to a news release. 

The last independent primary care practice in Clear Creek County closed in 2011, and then the County began searching for a replacement. Sustainability assessments were completed by professionals in the healthcare industry. 

The County also pulled multiple citizen groups together who responded with overwhelming consensus: easy access to local, quality, sustainable healthcare. In 2017, a primary care facility was formed in the City’s 1,335 square foot historic Jacob House, which was converted to meet the needs of the healthcare facility; however, as demand grew exceeding all projected forecasts, the County was once again reminded of the need for a larger, more permanent facility, and the idea for the Clear Creek County Collaborative Care Center was born. 

Not to be dissuaded by the pandemic, the team found creative strategies to commemorate the start of the project while keeping safety at the forefront, according to the news release. Numerous stakeholders were interviewed in a video compilation that was posted to each organization’s respective social media accounts. Additionally, on Friday, October 16, a select few representatives attended an on-site, socially-distanced ceremony and a shovel toss of dirt, which was recorded via Facebook Live on Clear Creek County’s Facebook account.

Once completed, the 12,000 square foot Collaborative Care Center, located on the southeast corner of Miner Street and Soda Creek Road in Idaho Springs, will leverage the combined resources of the entire County to provide services under one roof. The Collaborative Care Center will provide behavioral, physical, and mental health services for both residents and visitors. 

The project is being developed by Clear Creek County, designed by Treanor HL, and constructed by Alliance Construction Solutions. The project received grant funding, as well as additional funding from the Henderson Mine and Gates Family Foundation. Other stakeholders include representatives from Henderson Mill, Colorado Health Foundation, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Centura Health, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Pisula Development Company, and Henderson Mine. 

The Clear Creek County Collaborative Care Center is expected to open in 2021.

Community members and project participants commented in a video celebrating the ground breaking. Brian Weinmaster, president and CEO of Alliance Construction Services, said the Clear Creek County Collaborative Health Care project is important for Clear Creek County in the heart of Idaho Springs. 

The architecture is impeccable, and it will be a Class-A, Top-shelf medical care right in town, Weinmaster said. “It will be a great focal point for the community.” 

Steve Carr with Treanor HL Architects said he has been familiar with Idaho Springs when he grew up as a child in Golden and learned about local architecture and taking the material out of the ground, so the building is founded in creek rock material. 

George Marlin, Clear Creek County Commissioner, said this is an audacious project, and they have come across challenges. The Commission found out voters didn’t want to pay a tax for this building and couldn’t afford it, so they decided to fundraise, and that was the big turnaround with the project. 

Marlin grew up in Idaho Springs, and his mother had a daycare business. If something happened to one of her kids, she would drop off the other kids at school and then walk up the street to the doctor’s office. 

“I’m excited this will happen again,” Marlin said. “This will be a model facility that can be repeated across the front range. We know we are moving forward and have a long way to go with fundraising. I hope everyone can drive by the facility and say, ‘I was part of that project.’”

Randy Wheelock, County Commissioner for District 3 and Commission chair, said the County has been working hard to make the facility come here. “It is very important to have health care in the community, because when it is not here, the overall health of the community drops off, and that is what has happened here.”

The Henderson Mine donated $500,000 and they have received other donations. All of the County Commissioners have ponied up, and Wheelock’s family donated $10,000 so they are all giving until it hurts. 

“If you care about health care, this is the kind of gift that will benefit generations for years to come,” Wheelock said. Overall, they have $2 million left to go. They have a matching grant from the Colorado Health Foundation of $1 million over half a million they already donated. They have raised more than $3 million from outside the community, so they are hoping community members will also contribute.

Tracy Bane, president of the Freeport-McMoran Foundation, said that for several years the Foundation has been working to partner for locally available health care, and this groundbreaking represents the culmination of the health care needs for the community. This is an example of the power of partnerships when we all work together, transforming tomorrow together to work collaboratively with communities and make transformative change for long- term success. 

The Foundation and Henderson Mine have worked with nonprofits and civic leaders for programs for the community for post mining. The facility will provide a critical resource for decades to come. 

The Foundation committed half a million dollars to move the project forward, Bane said. “Clear Creek County and all who have been involved look forward to when we can all be together to celebrate the official opening.”

Mike Hillman, business owner and Idaho Springs Mayor, said Idaho Springs has needed this for years. The town has had a clinic or some care, but it was not consistent and it went away, so residents have been traveling down the hill to get primary care. 

“This is much needed and is great for the future,” Hillman said. They are trying to bring in other families to the community who asked whether health care was available. Some businesses decided not to come to Idaho Springs. 

Some people don’t drive, so they need something in the community to walk to or get on the bus in Georgetown, Hillman said. It will be good for the future of our county and is much needed for the folks and kids. 

Bob Wallace, service line director for rural health, had exposure to Clear Creek health care from the late 1990s. Doctor Elaine Schierer had a practice here and then left, so Clear Creek County was left without healthcare. St. Anthony’s Hospital and Clear Creek County decided to develop a plan. 

This is the culmination of a long dream and the vision of a number of people in the community who stepped up, Wallace said This will be a great boost for economic development. He especially thanked Cindy Dicken, Clear Creek County director of human services, Architect Steve Carr and the County attorney. 

More information on the project can be found at vimeo.com/user/80719433/folder/2738663. 

(Originally published in the November 5, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)