Building More Than a Hospital: Investing in Rural Healthcare
How partnerships are helping strengthen rural healthcare and rural communities.
During the groundbreaking ceremony for the new St. Croix Regional Medical Center, Board Chair Trudy Canine reminded attendees that the project represented much more than a new building. It reflected a shared vision for the future—a place where healing, hope, compassion and community will come together for generations.
That vision is becoming reality in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.
Construction is now underway on the new St. Croix Regional Medical Center, a project that will expand access to healthcare, support local families and strengthen the region's economy. It's also an example of what's possible when healthcare providers, government agencies and financial partners work together to invest in essential community infrastructure.
Through Community Facility Financing, Compeer Financial helps finance hospitals, senior care facilities and other essential facilities that help rural communities thrive. The new St. Croix Regional Medical Center demonstrates how those partnerships can help communities invest in their future by improving access to care while supporting long-term economic vitality.
The story of St. Croix Health began more than a century ago when Dr. Jake Riegel returned home after serving as a Navy physician during World War I. He cared for patients from his family's home in St. Croix Falls, making house calls throughout the surrounding countryside and providing healthcare wherever it was needed.
As the community grew, so did the organization. Today, St. Croix Health includes multiple clinics and a critical access hospital that has cared for generations of families throughout northwestern Wisconsin and neighboring communities.
Now, that legacy is entering its next chapter.
Scheduled to open in 2028, the new 130,000-square-foot replacement hospital will include an expanded emergency department, modern surgical suites, enhanced outpatient services, updated technology and improved patient flow while maintaining its critical access hospital designation.
Designed to meet the region's healthcare needs for decades to come, the new campus reflects years of planning and collaboration among healthcare leaders, community partners and financial institutions committed to strengthening rural healthcare.
By the Numbers
- More than 100 years serving the St. Croix Valley
- 130,000-square-foot replacement hospital
- Opening anticipated in 2028
- Expected to support construction jobs and regional economic activity
Beyond the new facility itself, the project is expected to strengthen the regional economy by supporting local contractors, suppliers, restaurants and hotels throughout the two-year construction period.
One story shared during the groundbreaking illustrates why this project means so much to the community.
Dr. Jill Ties, surgeon and chief of staff at St. Croix Health, recalled interviewing at the hospital simply to gain interview experience, never expecting to accept a position. Instead, she found a community she fell in love with. More than 20 years later, she continues caring for patients, helped establish the hospital's Breast Care Center and raised her family in the community she now proudly calls home.
Stories like hers remind us that healthcare is never just about buildings. It's about the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others and the communities they choose to serve. Their stories also illustrate why investing in rural healthcare matters—not only for patients, but for the long-term strength of rural communities.
Why Rural Healthcare Matters
Hospitals are among the most important pieces of infrastructure in rural communities. They provide emergency care, support local employers and help ensure families can access quality healthcare close to home.
Yet many rural healthcare providers continue to operate in facilities built decades ago. As healthcare continues to evolve, aging buildings, rising construction costs and limited funding options make it increasingly difficult for organizations to modernize while continuing to meet the needs of their communities.
The impact extends well beyond healthcare. Strong hospitals help attract employers, support workforce recruitment and contribute to the overall quality of life that encourages families and businesses to invest in rural communities.
Projects like the new St. Croix Regional Medical Center demonstrate what's possible when communities make long-term investments in essential infrastructure.
The Power of Partnership
Projects of this scale rarely happen through the efforts of a single organization.
The new St. Croix Regional Medical Center is being made possible through a collaborative partnership among St. Croix Health, USDA Rural Development, Compeer Financial and local lending partners. Each organization brings unique expertise and resources, helping bridge the financing gap that often makes large community projects difficult to achieve.
These partnerships are especially important in rural communities, where replacing essential facilities often requires creative financing solutions and a shared commitment to long-term community success.
"Strong healthcare systems are essential to strong rural communities. Projects like this require partners who understand both the challenges and the opportunities facing rural communities today. We're proud to help make investments like this possible."
— Ben Larson, Senior Financing Officer, Compeer Financial
Through Community Facility Financing, Compeer Financial partners with organizations that provide essential services, including hospitals, senior care facilities and other community assets that strengthen rural communities.
Since 2006, Compeer has provided more than $1 billion in Community Facility Financing to help support projects that improve quality of life and create lasting community impact.
Investing in Rural Communities
A new hospital represents much more than a modern building.
It creates opportunities for physicians and healthcare professionals to practice close to home. It gives employers confidence that quality healthcare is available for their workforce. It reduces travel time for patients and families and helps ensure residents can receive care when and where they need it most.
Those benefits extend throughout the community, supporting local businesses, schools, agriculture and future economic development.
That's why investments in healthcare infrastructure have an impact that reaches far beyond the walls of the facility itself.
More Than a Hospital
Years from now, most people won't remember the groundbreaking ceremony.
They'll remember welcoming a child into the world.
Receiving lifesaving care after an accident.
Hearing reassuring news from a physician.
Recovering close to home, surrounded by family and friends.
Those are the moments this project is helping make possible.
The new St. Croix Regional Medical Center represents far more than a replacement hospital. It reflects a community investing in its future and partners working together to help ensure quality healthcare remains available close to home for generations to come.
As Trudy Canine shared during the groundbreaking ceremony, projects like this are about much more than construction. They create places where healing, hope, compassion and community come together. That vision will continue long after construction is complete.
That's the lasting impact of investing in essential community facilities. It isn't simply about financing buildings—it's about strengthening rural communities by supporting the essential services families depend on every day. Through Community Facility Financing, Compeer Financial helps make those investments possible.
Learn More
Strong healthcare systems are one of many investments that help rural communities thrive.
Through Community Facility Financing, Compeer Financial partners with organizations that provide essential community services and strengthen the places where people live, work and raise their families.
Learn more about how Compeer Financial is investing in rural communities.
