PEORIA, Ill. – The last and, perhaps, most important beam has been placed on top of the still-under-construction OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute.
The beam itself, part of a ceremony Thursday, has hundreds of signatures of employees, cancer survivors, and others, along with an evergreen tree on one side, an American flag on the other, and a Franciscan cross.
“The cancer institute is, and will always be, a reminder of how much God loves and care for His people in everything that’s engaged,” said Sr. Judith Ann Duvall, Chair of the Boards, OSF HealthCare. “Truly here, we want to treat the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.”
Clint Drury is Exective Director of the West Central Building and Construction Trades Council, and says the construction workers he oversees are contributing big to the local economy.
“It’s estimated this project will provide 300 full time equivalent construction jobs, resulting in approximately $19 million in wages and benefits,” said Drury. “Since our construction professionals reside in Central Illinois, in the Peoria area, over $70 million will be reinvested back in to the local economy.”
Construction started about a year ago, with about two years remaining. Fundraising on the project also continues.
Duvall calls the project “a gift from the community, to the community.”
(Will Stevenson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD)
