Last night's Business After Hours at the Essentia Health Virginia Clinic (2023 Laurentian Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year award winner) was an evening to remember! Chamber members and guests were treated to a delightful spread of finger foods and refreshing lemonade, all courtesy of Kunnari's. The relaxed atmosphere set the perfect tone for networking and catching up with colleagues and friends.

The event featured some fantastic gift drawings, with generous prizes provided by the Essentia Health Foundation and the Essentia Gift Shop. A few lucky attendees went home with some wonderful goodies, adding a fun and festive flair to the evening.

However, the true highlight of the night was a presentation by Sam Stone, Essentia Health Arrowhead Region Administrator and Laurentian Chamber of Commerce Board Member. Sam unveiled the ambitious $250 million rebuild project that will eventually replace the current hospital. Although the future timeline is still unfolding, the sneak peek in the the plans for the new Emergency Department had everyone buzzing with excitement.

Currently, the Emergency Department at Essentia Health Virginia Clinic handles over 14,000 patients a year. With its limited space and the need to accommodate patients in hallway beds, it's clear that a significant upgrade is needed. Sam revealed that the new design will feature a 12-bed emergency room along with a 4-bed behavioral health crisis area, making a major improvement in patient care and facility efficiency.

Sam Stone expressed his gratitude to all entities involved in this monumental project, including the Essentia Health Foundation, Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, and the City of Virginia. Special recognition was given to State Representative Dave Lislegard (District: 07B), who shared a few words about his ongoing efforts to secure $3.3 million in funding to support this much-needed renovation.

The Business After Hours event not only provided a great networking opportunity but also gave us a glimpse into the future of healthcare in our region. We look forward to seeing this incredible project take shape and witnessing the positive impact it will have on our community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night, and a special thanks to Essentia Health for hosting such an informative and engaging evening!

Join us for our next Business After Hours at the Biwabik Pavilion with Giants Ridge and Biwabik Area Civic Association as we kick off their annual Honktoberfest event on Wednesday, September 25th from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M.!

You can preregister online at: https://business.laurentianchamber.org/events/details/business-after-hours-september-2024-giants-ridge-biwabik-area-civic-association-1848