St. Croix Health Secures USDA Funding for New Facility

St. Croix Health has been working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to secure funding for a new, 130,000-square-foot facility to replace the critical access hospital currently located on State Street in St. Croix Falls.

The new building will be conveniently located south of Hwy. 8 off 208^th Street in St. Croix Falls to continue providing necessary care for the community it has served for over 100 years. With a hospital that was originally constructed in 1954 and has been pieced together with additions over the years, the obstacles of maintaining the current facility while providing necessary accessibility and efficient care have been challenging. The new campus will solve many of these ongoing problems.

“St. Croix Health has been a pillar in the City of St. Croix Falls and Polk County for decades. It is important that we maintain the level of care that our community expects while also providing a better patient experience and improved functionality for our staff,” stated Mike Youso, St. Croix Health Chief Executive Officer.

After a competitive selection process, St. Croix Health chose to work with Kahler Slater, a renowned architecture firm with extensive experience in designing healthcare campuses. “St. Croix Health’s new hospital is designed with future-ready spaces that promote the health and well-being of patients and staff while adapting to the evolving needs of the region for generations to come,” said Melinda Pogwizd, Design Leader for Kahler Slater.

With the size and preliminary design identified and funding secured, St. Croix Health has chosen Market & Johnson as the contractor for the project. “Our firm has a strong passion for rural healthcare and is excited for this project that will have a lasting community impact,” said Tyler Swanson, Director of Client and Construction Services for Market & Johnson.

The new facility will maintain St. Croix Health’s 25-bed critical access hospital designation and will include an expanded emergency department with improved flow for ambulances and emergency vehicles. The one-level design allows for easier maneuverability for patients and staff. The services provided by the hospital that the community has come to expect will continue at the new campus with easier and direct access. Many of the existing outpatient clinical services will also move to the new facility.

“We know that this has been discussed for years,” Mike Youso said. “And we are grateful that with the confirmation of this funding and the work we are doing, we will finally be able to make this new facility a reality for the community.”

The St. Croix Falls Clinic location on Adams Street in St. Croix Falls will continue to be utilized by St. Croix Health for multiple uses, including office space. The future of the existing hospital building is currently undetermined, but St. Croix Health is committed to working with the community and the City of St. Croix Falls to evaluate options.

The USDA Rural Development shared a press release discussing the financial investment being made into the new campus. The information they provided can be found HERE.

St. Croix Health is continuing its work with Kahler-Slater, Market & Johnson, the City of St. Croix Falls, and multiple other partners to finalize plans and create a timeline for the building process. Stay tuned for information about the 2026 groundbreaking and the expected 2028 grand opening.