Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) made an official announcement of its plan to build a new hospital in Jones County.

About 100 people flooded into the Lawrence Community Center to hear the plans for the hospital and were also asked to help raise money for the facility.

Sean Williams, JRMC CEO, addressed the crowd and said there had been a lot of talk over the past few years about building a new hospital in Jones County.

He added that when the current facility was built in the 1960s, the majority of care was inpatient; today 80 percent of care is outpatient.

“Today, I couldn’t have more enthusiasm or excitement to say, we’re going to make that a reality in Jones County,” he said to the group, who cheered the plan.

Jay Willems, Co-chair of the JRMC Foundation and Capital Campaign, then addressed the guests and told them the silent phase of fundraising had ended, and the public phase beginning. He included that $1.9 million had come from donors in the silent phase. The goal is to raise $2.5 million of the $12.8 million needed for the project. Willems reminded that the more funds raised, the less money the hospital will need to borrow.

He added that the campaign would accept cash and checks, securities and personal property.

“If anyone would have an original grant Wood painting, we would certainly accept that, too.” He stated, receiving laughs from the crowd.

He told the group that naming rights begin at the $10,000 donation level.

Willems co-chair, Charlie Becker, spoke next and said the campaign had received several large donations, including $900,000 from Eloise Sutherland Helgens.

Becker said JRMC had enlisted the help of Louis Moore, who passed away late last year, and Dr. John Bailey to bring awareness to the county and help with the campaign. Moore’s wife, Marcella, has agreed to take his place in the campaign.