Groundbreaking for new Emergency Medical Services training center on West State Nov. 3

Online Staff Report

For decades a leader in providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training in the northern Illinois region, OSF HealthCare and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center make a new commitment to the community with construction of a state-of-the-art EMS training facility adjacent to the City of Rockford fire training facility on West State Street.

The $2 million-plus investment follows more than $400,000 of training OSF has already provided to Rockford Fire personnel at no cost to the city, and creates new and improved ways for the city to save more money associated with training its firefighters.

While the new facility will serve many clients, it will provide a convenient, state-of-the-art instructional environment for Rockford firefighters. In fact, it is the first and only EMS training facility in the region designed specifically for Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services training and that is adjacent to a fire station.

At a site carefully considered to help advance development on Rockford’s west side, the new facility can provide the city with an opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in firefighter training costs not only because of its location next to Fire Station No. 6, but with the facility directly tied into the emergency 9-1-1 system, firefighters-in-training can be in-service and respond quickly to emergency events.

“A lot of thought, effort and resources over the last 18 months have gone into creating this highly efficient model,” said David Schertz, president and CEO of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center.

Finally, as the first building to be constructed at this west-side location, OSF believes it will encourage more development in the area and help the city offset its infrastructure investment.

“These are tough economic times,” said Schertz, “and being collaborative and smart about the way private organizations and local governments work together is important if we are going to work toward a better future for our community.”

A groundbreaking will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, just west of Pierpont Avenue and West State Street, immediately west of Rockford Fire Station No. 6. Look for the tent.

Schertz will be attending, as well as Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey, Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen, state representatives Chuck Jefferson, Dave Winters and Joe Sosnowski, and State Sen. Christine Johnson.