Community

VGH Community Impact

The impact of Virginia Gay Hospital on the city of Vinton and the surrounding area is measured in much more than dollars and cents. However, the dollars and cents are pretty impressive, too. A recent study by the Iowa Hospital Association revealed the economic impact from what employees of the hospital spend in the Vinton community totals nearly $1.4 million in retail sales. This results in over $88,000 of sales tax revenue.

The study also stated Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics, Nursing and Rehab, and Home Health generates 1,137 jobs that add $28.7 million to Vinton and the surrounding region’s economy.

Hospital administrator Mike Riege credits this to the community and its support of Virginia Gay Hospital. "Thanks to the tremendous support of our patients we have been able to grow our facility and services over the past decade. Examples of this growth are the new medical clinic in Urbana, complete renovation and expansion of the Vinton and Van Horne Family Medical Clinics, and the current $8.5 million expansion of the hospital. Over a quarter of the money ($2,057,500) for the hospital expansion project was provided by the community through our 'Commitment to Caring' fundraising campaign".

Over 95 years ago, former Vinton resident Virginia Gay willed $50,000 to the city for the purpose of building a hospital. With that initial donation (worth more than $1 million in today’s dollars), the hospital was able to open in 1923. Today, her namesake hospital has more than 200 employees and has become a major factor in the local economy. Much like Virginia Gay herself, the people of Vinton and Benton County continue to invest in their hospital.