By Victor Montgomery
Norton Healthcare, a CSG Associate, announced a joint $100 million investment in combination with Goodwill Industries of Kentucky (Goodwill) and Governor Andy Beshear to transform programs and services in West Louisville.
One of Kentucky’s most underserved communities, West Louisville is home to 65,000 mostly African American families living on $21,000 or less per year. Prior to the announcement, the nine-neighborhood community endured years of poor investment, limited employment opportunities, and financial barriers to self-sufficiency. In response to these broad challenges, the investment will fund development of a 20-acre abandoned lot into an Opportunity Campus to house a new Norton Heathcare hospital, Goodwill’s headquarters operation, and a collection of local agencies providing career development and numerous other services.
“Norton Healthcare has been intentional about providing access to quality medical treatment by eliminating obstacles so all residents can live a healthy and prosperous life,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “This state-of-the-art facility will help us continue to bring health equity to the forefront. A person’s ZIP code should never define their health status and their ability to receive care.”
Norton Healthcare is a not-for-profit hospital and health care system serving adult and pediatric patients from throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. The hospital will be the first modern health care facility of its kind in West Louisville. Norton Healthcare will provide emergency room services, adult and pediatric primary care physician offices, and inpatient and outpatient services. X-rays and CT scans will also be available along with specialty services such as women’s health, cardiology, neurology, and endocrinology.
Norton Healthcare is Louisville’s third largest employer, with more than 18,000 employees, over 1,700 employed medical providers and approximately 2,000 total physicians on its medical staff. The new hospital is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs, roughly half of the 200 new jobs that the Opportunity Campus will bring to West Louisville, with an approximate average salary of $60,000. Altogether, career services provided by Goodwill and local agencies are expected to have an annual impact of $18.7 million by placing over 600 job seekers into full-time roles with businesses paying a minimum of $13 per hour.
“Access to quality health care, jobs and life-enhancing services is how we can better the lives of our people, break cycles of poverty and create a better future for every Kentuckian,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This investment by Goodwill Industries of Kentucky and Norton Healthcare will truly move West Louisville forward and create a lasting impact for this area and our people for generations to come. I am thankful for these two organizations and their commitment to investing in West Louisville and our people.”
The Opportunity Campus is slated to open its doors in the summer of 2023 when Goodwill Industries of Kentucky will celebrate its 100-year anniversary. Norton Healthcare’s hospital will take 18-24 months to complete. More details on the Opportunity Campus can be found at www.GoodwillWestLouisville.com.