Sanford Health is pulling back its plan to help develop the Rail Corridor and build a Health and Wellness Center.
Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota CEO and President Karla Eischens said the cost to construct and operate the facility is not sustainable at this time.
The plan was championed by the economic development organization Greater Bemidji, whose board will now take the lead on the project to develop the rail corridor, according to Executive Director Dave Hengel.
Sanford Health remains committed to the $10 million investment into community health and wellness, and another million dollars in donations were collected for the 16-acre rail corridor project.
The City of Bemidji has owned the rail corridor parcel since the early 2000s.
As a site for industrial development in Bemidji’s early days, the parcel has identifiable contaminants in the soil that will need to be addressed for any future use.
