Benton County’s groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 12 celebrated the start of construction on the new Columbia Valley Center for Recovery in Kennewick. 

The $23 million facility is set to be finished by December 2025.

Bouten Construction is the general contractor.

“This significant milestone marks the beginning of the first phase of construction at the former Kennewick General Hospital building and Auburn campus,” the county said in a statement, describing the center at 216 W. 10th Ave. as “the first facility in the Tri-Cities, dedicated to providing essential addiction recovery and crisis stabilization services.”

Initial services, each with their own distinct area within the hospital, include inpatient residential treatment, secure withdrawal, 23-hour crisis relief and crisis stabilization.

Local tax revenue and state and federal grants will pay for construction, with a behavioral health sales tax allocation covering operations, the county said.

Comprehensive Healthcare will manage the facility. 

“(The center) will play a vital role in the long-term economic and social well-being of our community. The center is designed to provide an alternative to current methods such as arrest, incarceration or emergency room visits for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis,” the statement said. 

“The facility aims to assist both law enforcement and health care providers in managing these situations effectively,” the statement said.

The recovery center will operate with a “no wrong door” model, accepting all patients regardless of acuity, condition or ability to pay.

Go to: 509recovery.org/columbia-valley-center-for-recovery.