The City of Massillon got a big punch in the gut earlier this year when Affinity Medical Center closed. Folks lost their jobs, and residents have since been forced to go elsewhere for medical care.
Tuesday night was a glimmer of hope.
After months of hearing proposals from six different groups looking to revive the hospital, Massillon's City Council narrowed it down to one.
"It means everything to Massillon," said Councilwoman Linda Litman. "As a council member I’ve spoken to so many residents and it was clear that Massillon wanted to have a hospital of our own."
The folks at Paramount Matrix Healthcare from Tennessee are hopeful they'll be the final pick.
"We want to bring back multi-departmental, life cycle care to the community," said Paramount managing partner Jeffrey Hubrig.
Hubrig says his company plans to keep the hospital, which they plan to rename Massillon Regional Medical Center, fully functioning and say former employees will have first dibs on jobs.
"We really want to insulate the city and show the community that they can have wholistic care back here in Massillon," said Hubrig.
A final vote to hire this company will take place Monday, September 10.
