By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The state appointed board overseeing the collaboration of Kaleida and ECMC said Wednesday it's moving forward with controversial plans for a world class heart center.
Officials for the NEWCO board say they will have the application for state funding of the $115 million project completed and submitted by Thursday's deadline. Plans for the Global Vascular Institute call for a new four story medical complex adjacent to Buffalo General Hospital on Goodrich Street.
ECMC is submitting a competing application for a heart center at its campus. But NEWCO Board Chair Robert Gioia says they expect full support for their project.
State funding through the HEAL grant would pay for roughly half the project. The remainder would come from fundraising and operational revenue.
Gioia says the state of the art center would be completed within two and a half years.