SHELBY — Alex Goff was assigned to help with a Third Street Family Health Services project moments after his orientation with the non-profit organization.

Renovations planned at Third Street Health and Wellness Center in Shelby already started before Goff joined Third Street as director of development in July 2023.

He said that Administration of health resources and services, one of the financiers of the project, allocated money for renovations a few years ago.

“At the time, we thought the money they allocated would probably be adequate to do the entire renovation,” Goff said.

However, the impact of COVID and increased material costs due to rising inflation increased the project’s anticipated costs – creating a “substantial shortfall”.

“It was kind of like day one, we had to find people who saw the vision and wanted to get involved,” Goff said. “It was literally going to orientation — ‘We need you to help us make sure this project gets done.’

After a complete overhaul of its interior, The Shelby Health and Wellness Center recently reopened its doors to downtown patients.

“It was nice to work on it and it’s actually in a complete state,” said the development director.

What’s new?

Interior renovations began at the Shelby Health and Wellness Center on Third Street in December 2023 and cost approximately $1.1 million to $1.2 million.

“This is a complete makeover of the inside of the building,” Goff said, adding that even the building’s original plumbing is gone.

At its Shelby center, Third Street offers primary and dental care — now expanded thanks to facility renovations. The nonprofit has also allocated space for behavioral health, obstetricians and women’s care.

Goff said behavioral health, OB/GYN and women’s care will likely begin being offered between late 2025 and early 2026.

The Shelby Health and Wellness Center now has seven medical exam rooms and five dental offices – including new wheelchair accessible equipment.

Third Street’s investment in its Shelby center was inspired by several things, including data-driven evidence of the need to provide services in the city.

“Over the last five years, we’ve seen our patient population here at Shelby double,” Goff said.

There are also opportunities to serve patients in surrounding communities, including Plymouth, Willard and Ontario.

“To be able to be a part of that and the rebirth of downtown (Shelby), I think those were all key elements for us to make this investment,” he said.

(Below is a slideshow showing the Shelby Health and Wellness Center before and after renovations. Courtesy of Alex Goff, director of development at Third Street Family Health Services.)

Phase One completed

The full interior renovations of the Shelby Center on Third Street were an ambitious “first phase,” but the non-profit has long-term future goals for downtown.

Goff said that in the future, Third Street would like to redo the center’s parking lot and make improvements to the facade of the Main Street building.

“We’re looking at ways we can continue to invest dollars here in Shelby and upgrade our facility to make sure we’re giving everyone a first-class experience and not losing any of that,” he said. .

People can tour the newly upgraded space — designed for improved patient care and comfort — during a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m.

Third Street President and CEO Peggy Anderson said the newly renovated facility is a significant step forward in the non-profit organization’s mission to provide affordable, high-quality health care for everyone in Shelby.

“This transformation allows us to expand our services, improve patient convenience and ensure our community has access to a state-of-the-art healthcare environment right here at home,” she said.

“We are excited to continue our commitment to Shelby’s health and wellness in a space that truly reflects our dedication to the people we serve.”

Goff said he wants to thank everyone who helped make the project a reality, including HRSA, the Milliron Foundation, the Shelby Foundation, Delta Dental and the Gorman Family Foundation.

“They have been the biggest supporters of this project and without that support we would not be here today,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to do all the work we could do.

“We are truly grateful for all their contributions to this project.”

The Shelby Health and Wellness Center, 31 E. Main St., has different hours for medical and dental services.

Medical assistance is available on Mondays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Services are also available Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dental care is available Monday from 7:30am to 5:00pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00am to 5:30pm

(Below are more photos of the interior renovations at the Shelby Health and Wellness Center. Images courtesy of Alex Goff, director of development at Third Street Family Health Services.)