Expansion of Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria proceeds despite loss of federal grant

Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria is currently undergoing a $300 million expansion. The new facility will include a more secure foundation, a vertical tsunami evacuation staircase and other features meant to make it more resilient during a potential earthquake.

 

That work was supposed to be covered by a $20 million grant from the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. But the Trump administration cancelled the program this spring, leaving projects across the country and state stranded. 

Work on the hospital is proceeding despite the loss of federal funding. Columbia Memorial CEO Erik Thorsen joins us to talk about where the project stands.