By Patrick Hurston
Modern. State-of-the-art. Teched-out.
That’s how Hardy County Health Director Bill Ours describes the new Health
Department building that opened its doors to the public on January 21, 2025.
Located at 421 Jackson Street in Moorefield, the facility sits adjacent to the
old building, but according to Ours, that’s as close as things get when
comparing the two.
Ours granted a tour to the Examiner, proudly showing off its enhancements,
which include a doubling in size from 4,000 to 8,000 square feet; three
additional exam rooms; a children’s playroom; a state-of-the-art meeting and
conference room; a drive-up window; and dedicated parking. Other upgrades
include a kitchenette that will allow the facility to provide basic, but essential
food and water should it need to be used as a warming or cooling center,
wireless technology throughout, and an advanced security system.
Ours was quick to note that for all its bells and whistles, what matters most
is expanding quality care to those who need it.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he said of the opening. “It was much needed and much
deserved. I’m happy for my employees and the citizens of Hardy County. We
now have one of the nicest and best health departments in the state.”
The center offers clinical and environmental services that aim to improve the
quality of life for the citizens of Hardy County.
Services offered include breast and cervical cancer screenings,
communicable disease prevention, family planning, health check pediatric
screenings, immunizations, STD/HIV testing and counseling, and
tuberculosis screening.
Executive Director of the Hardy County Development Authority Mallie Combs
said the joint project of the Hardy County Commission and the Development
Authority was funded with a mix of federal, state, and local dollars.
She said the new health department building was identified as a priority by
the Commission in large part because the county was growing and rapidly
diversifying, requiring enhanced and expanded health care. When the
pandemic hit, it shined a further spotlight on the need for a separate,
dedicated space.
“The Health Department, Wellness Center, and Committee on Aging were all
sharing a parking lot. During Covid it became a challenge to keep people
safe,” she said.
In addition to $176,000 from the county, which included the land purchase,
$1 million was secured from the USDA Rural Health Care Grant program.
That money was then leveraged by Ours and the County Commission to
secure an additional $2 million state grant with the help of Senate President
Randy Smith, at the time an influential member of the Senate Finance
Committee, and then-Governor Jim Justice.
Ours said he was able to press the case with the Governor when he made a
townhall-style visit to Hardy County during the 2022 election cycle.
“I was able to pull him aside for five minutes and tell him how desperately
we needed this,” he said.
Combs said the final funding installment came in the form of a $474,000
USDA loan. The loan is for 30 years and will be repaid by the County
Commission.
Ours said an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will likely be held in the spring.
For more information on services provided by the Health Department, visit
its new website at www.hardycountyhealthdepartment.com
