Health department breaks ground on new facility to meet growing community needs

WAYNE, Neb. — Due to significant growth in recent years, the Northeast Nebraska Health Department has outgrown its current facility.

Community members, city officials, and department leaders gathered for a groundbreaking Friday morning for the facility that will double the size of their building.

Northeast Nebraska Health Department has occupied their current facility on Pearl St. in Wayne since 2011.

“We looked everywhere and tried to find what was best for our health department,” Hupke said.

After considering various options, the department decided to construct a new building on the west side of town.

The new facility will offer more office space, a new clinic area, and additional training and education rooms.

“I want to say it’s around 2,000 [to] 2,500 square feet versus now we’re going to have 5,500 to 6,000 square feet,” Hupke said. “It’s going to be a huge upgrade.”

The department serves four counties in Northeast Nebraska: Thurston, Wayne, Cedar, and Dixon counties.

The expansion is intended to meet the growing need for various types of medical care in the area.

“Educational programs and clinics for chronic disease services so things like diabetes, high-blood pressure, and heart disease [and] access to mental health services and resources,” Hupke said.

City officials in Wayne are optimistic about the potential for further development in the area.

“We know there will likely be housing up to the north someday [and] filled in with commercial development to the east and west,” city administrator Wes Blecke said.

With the expansion, Hupke hopes to add more staff to the department to better serve the community.

Construction is set to begin next week and Hupke said construction is scheduled to be completed by early 2025.