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ROOTS project supports rural workforce
McCook, Neb. - Community Hospital opened the doors last Thursday to its newly constructed ROOTS student housing building in downtown McCook, inviting the public to tour the facility as final construction work continues. Hospital leadership outlined the vision for the project during a brief program attended by Nebraska Sen. Dave Murman, representatives from U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer’s office, McCook Chamber of Commerce officials, city leaders, and hospital staff.
ROOTS—short for Rural Opportunities Offering Tomorrow’s Success—is designed to support students and young professionals pursuing careers in rural healthcare by providing modern, community-focused housing in a downtown setting. Hospital CEO Troy Bruntz and Vice President of Support Services Lori Beeby said the project is intended to help attract and retain future healthcare providers while strengthening McCook’s workforce and cultural vitality.
The approximately 20,000-square-foot building was developed in partnership with W Design and Samson Construction and has been in planning for more than a year. When complete, the project is expected to cost an estimated $6 million. Of that total, $1.31 million has already been secured through grant funding and private donations, with the remaining balance supported through the hospital’s operating budget.
Industry estimates place new student housing construction at approximately $220 to $575 per square foot, depending on design and local labor costs. For comparison, a University of Nebraska Medical Center campus housing facility expected to open in 2026 carries a reported cost of $66 million for 200,000 square feet, or about $330 per square foot. By comparison, the ROOTS building comes in at roughly $300 per square foot, placing it slightly below that benchmark.
Construction on the ROOTS project is now in its final stages, with drywall installation nearly complete. The building is expected to be completed by early December 2025, with residents projected to move in beginning in January 2026.
Bruntz said the ROOTS building represents more than housing, calling it an experience designed to introduce students and interns to life in McCook beyond their clinical or educational responsibilities. He said placing the building downtown allows residents to walk to restaurants, businesses, and cultural attractions, helping them connect with the community.
“There’s something special about this community,” Bruntz said. “If we put a building in this spot, create social space, and let people experience what the community has to offer, down the road they’ll remember this.”
The building is located near McCook’s art museums and across from Norris Alley, where a mural is planned for the back of the building as part of the surrounding arts district. Inside, photos submitted by hospital staff through an in-house photography contest are displayed throughout the building, with plans to rotate artwork quarterly.
ROOTS includes shared social spaces, an exercise room, and common areas intended to encourage socialization among residents. The building uses a streamlined keycard system integrated with Community Hospital’s existing security system, allowing students working at the hospital to use a single badge for both locations.
Beeby said the project reflects Community Hospital’s long-standing commitment to student education and workforce development. She noted the hospital regularly hosts students from more than a dozen colleges and universities for rotations lasting anywhere from a few weeks to several months. “This is more than a financial investment,” Beeby said. “It’s a shared promise to build something meaningful, lasting, and deeply rooted in purpose.” “We want to continue to expand and really involve the community and these students in what we do at the hospital,” she said.
While most residents will be healthcare students and interns, Bruntz said the hospital plans to offer housing to other students and interns when space is available, including student teachers or professionals in fields such as engineering or accounting.
“We need every kind of professional in this community,” Bruntz said. “If we have availability, we want to offer space so they can experience McCook and hopefully choose to stay.”
Hospital officials said the ROOTS project is intended as a long-term investment in McCook’s future workforce and rural healthcare access. Bruntz said Community Hospital has seen long-term success in retaining employees who move to McCook from out of state, adding that community amenities and a welcoming culture play a key role. “As long as you provide people with opportunity in their profession and a community that offers what people expect in a small town, they’re going to be happy,” he said.