Atypical for the construction industry, more than 100 contractors, builders and tradesmen were invited to a sit-down presentation about the upcoming Capital Region Medical Center project in Jefferson City.
The hospital's board of directors wants as many of the $37 million outpatient expansion project bids as possible to go to local companies.
"The board means it that they want local participation," said Chris Hentges, president of SIRCAL-McCarthy.
The 100,000-square-foot expansion is in an elite tier of building projects in town, comparable to the ongoing St. Mary's Health Center and the 2003 Central Bank site, board member Jim Wisch said.
Typically, out-of-town contractors win the bids for these large-scale projects, he noted.
Although the board maintains a fiduciary responsibility on the project, Wednesday's introduction meeting is a testament to its intentions to look strongly at local companies.
"We want to give local business every opportunity to get involved," said Martin Grabanski, director of facilities.
Wisch said he was pleased to see several faces in the audience, who might not normally write bids for such a project.
Several invitations were extended to companies whose business model might not fit the exact scope of a project.
As the board intends to work with local companies to get them access to the project, they in turn have asked local companies to be flexible and competitive.
"Our success depends on your success," said board member Bud Peck.
The three-story medical office building, projected to be open spring 2015, reflects the changing trend in health care from inpatient to outpatient care.
The hospital also hopes this new delivery will improve efficiency and patient experience, too.
A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 27 on Woodlawn Avenue between Monroe and Madison streets.
"These are our friends, neighbors, patients and our future," said board member and building committee chairman Sam Bushman. "There was no discussion; it was a matter of fact: "We are going to use as much of our local resources as possible.'"