JACKSON, Wyo. — St. John’s Health (SJH) and the St. John’s Health Foundation will break ground for the Hitching Post employee housing this week and the governor is expected to be in attendance.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m., and remarks are set to begin at 10:15 a.m. The event will occur at the future site of the Hitching Post Apartments at 460 East Broadway Ave.

St. John’s Health Foundation announced the event in a Facebook post. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon plans to attend the event and offer remarks focusing on the importance of housing for Wyoming’s workforce.

In 2022, Buckrail reported that SJH employee housing was a SPET ballot initiative, seeking $24,000,000. The measure was approved, and funding for the project was to be a three-way partnership between SPET, SJH and St. John’s Health Foundation through private philanthropy.

Rendering of the future St. John’s Health employee housing Hitching Post Apartments. Image: St. John’s Health Foundation

“Earning the votes from the entire community for this project felt like a validation of the importance of keeping highly skilled health care workers in our community,” SJH Chief Communication Officer Karen Connelly told Buckrail. “The SJH Foundation was also successful at connecting philanthropic interest from donors to this project.”

Town Council approved this project’s development plan in June. The old buildings at the Hitching Post Lodge have been either relocated or demolished.

“This vital initiative will provide much-needed housing for those who dedicate their lives to caring for ours,” reads the St. John’s Health Foundation Facebook post.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.