Work on the concerted effort to reopen the local hospital is continuing, according to an economic development official.

“We are aggressively working on getting the hospital reopened,” Debbie Foley, economic development director, said to update residents on the status of reopening the hospital.

The Pioneer Community Hospital of Patrick closed in September, 2017.

The Patrick County Board of Supervisors in February agreed to allow Foley and the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to take the lead in negotiations.

Members of the EDA and Foley recently met with supervisors in closed session. However, there was no discussion at the end of that meeting.

Foley said officials can provide few details about their efforts with negotiations underway.

While she could not comment on actual negotiations, Foley said “we have consulted with an attorney to seek legal counsel and guide us through our negotiations. We also are working with VCC (Virginia Community Capital) to determine what our options are.”

The VCC, which holds the lien on the hospital and property, bid $5.7 million for the property at a December auction.

Earlier this year, local officials mounted a successful bid to get legislation pushed through the General Assembly to extend certain state level licenses.

Currently, Foley said she is working with federal representatives including Ninth District U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, to extend/renew other requirements.

“We have not let up at all,” Foley said. “We know how important this hospital is to our residents.”