Construction begins on $23+ million Tri-Cities recovery center. Who will it help and how?

Tri-Cities community leaders celebrated Tuesday as crews "broke ground" on the future Columbia Valley Center for Recovery in Kennewick.

The ceremony, which was more of a wall breaking than turning dirt with a shovel, marks the beginning of major renovation work for the recovery center at the old Kennewick General Hospital.

The project, which is the culmination of a years-long communitywide effort, is expected to cost $23 million to $27 million.

And Benton and Franklin leaders are kicking in millions more in planned improvements. The center will be able to serve up to 57 people at a time when it opens in 2026.

Benton County Commissioner Michael Alvarez called the center transformative. He told the crowd of more than 100 attendees that people who struggle with addiction and mental health can impact anyone, sharing how he'd seen it firsthand during his time in the U.S. Marines and when he lost his father.

Deputy County Administrator Matt Rasmussen called the center a "one stop shop" for people struggling.

He also read comments from Benton County Commissioner Jerome Delvin, who said the center will be a "beacon of hope for our community" providing essential services that will not only tackle the problems currently impacting the Tri-Cities, but set the area up to fight back against future challenges.

Franklin County Commissioner Stephen Bauman said the center represents the hard work of a very important partnership and he looks forward to continuing with that process.

Construction is expected to wrap up in late 2025 and the keys will then be handed over to Comprehensive Healthcare , who will manage the programs. They hope to begin accepting patients in early 2026.

The facility is being designed and built by Bouten Construction and NAC Architecture.

What is a recovery center? The recovery center will bring critically needed addiction treatment and crisis mental health services to the region in a public setting.

Currently when someone is suffering from an addiction or mental health related crisis, options in the Tri-Cities are limited . There are no crisis first responders and police have nowhere to take someone other than jail or an emergency room.

They're not the same as rehabilitation or long-term, in-patient mental health services though.

The recovery center will be focused on the missing stabilization needed to get someone into long-term care.

Where they go next depends on the level of care, but most of the those long term services are also not located in the Tri-Cities.

What services will it offer?Short-Term/Sobering — a 23-hour observation unit that focuses on stabilization and sobering up. This unit will be structured like a living room setting with recliners. Patients will be assessed here to determine longer care needs.

Crisis Stabilization —This unit is designed for clients whose primary diagnosis is mental illness related. Services will include assessment, diagnosis and treatment for those without the need for longer stays. Typically they'll spend five days or fewer here, but longer stays can happen voluntarily or by court order.

Withdrawal Management —This unit will provide secure withdrawal management and stabilization services. Patients will be assessed, stabilized and cared for while detoxing. There will be two levels of detox, one with monitoring and patient administered medication and the other with 24-hour medical care by nurses and doctors.

Residential Substance Use Treatment —This unit will be for longer-term substance use treatment. The length of the stay will depend on ongoing assessments and progress toward treatment goals.

Who will it serve? The Columbia Valley Center for Recovery is designed to be a " no wrong door " treatment center.

That means they will serve anyone with a need, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

This approach is critical for law enforcement intervention. It means people who actually need medical care will not be turned away and just sent to jail. It will allow officers to bring in someone in crisis without having to involve them in the criminal justice system.

Because it is a publicly-owned facility, services are available to anyone who is able to come in. There is no geographic restriction, despite being owned by Benton County . The broader name of the facility was decided on because it will serve a larger regional need.

That doesn't mean Tri-Cities tax dollars will be paying for people out of the area though. Comprehensive will manage reimbursements, and relatives staying in the area while a loved one is treated will be contributing to the local economy.

How will they get treatment? The facility will be open to the public, meaning anyone can voluntarily seek services.

There also will be involuntary treatment through court orders for people in active crisis.

There will be a public entrance and a dedicated first responder entrance where police or EMTs can bring in patients in a secure manner.

What about the rest of the space? There's plenty of room for growth at the nearly 200,000-square-foot facility. For perspective, the building is about 10,000-square-feet bigger than the planned larger second Costco in Richland .

The initial footprint will be built out in the newest portions of the hospital , largely the former Trios Birthing Center area.

Benton and Franklin County also recently agreed to split an $11 million bill for "betterments" for the first construction phase.

That cost includes building a full commercial kitchen, a 5,000-square foot expansion of the program area, an outdoor courtyard area, converting some of the planned dual rooms into single rooms for the in-patient treatment programs and upgrades to the aging hospital's generators.

It also includes some money for security improvements and landscaping.

While the plans for the facility include plenty of options for future additions, the county is actively pursuing one plan to kick off phase two.

Benton County is asking the Washington Department of Commerce to approve a grant for $7.4 million to help fund converting 14,000 square feet of old hospital rooms on the second floor into 17 double occupancy apartments. There also would be an apartment for an on-site program manager.

Youth mental health and addiction services also are part of long-term plans for the facility. Those aren't included in the initial services because the adults and youth have to be treated separately.

Other services included in the preliminary plans could eventually include day treatment for youth and adults, a technical skills classroom, art therapy and library rooms, transitional housing, eating disorder treatment and intensive outpatient treatment.

The second floor could be used for more transitional housing, respite/diversion beds and youth inpatient and children's long-term treatment. The second and third floor of the Spaulding offices will be set aside for future office use.