Excela Health will receive $4 million in a deal with Hempfield supervisors, who agreed to pay the health care provider $1 million for a 43-acre parcel of land in the township and transfer funds from a $3 million state grant.

County records show Excela originally bought the land for $3.75 million in 2015 in hopes of building an orthopedic center.

The township agreed to transfer an existing $3 million Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant awarded when Excela presented plans for the orthopedic center. After the township signs off on the transfer, Excela can use the funds for another project.

“Hempfield Township realized that, although it’s unfortunate that site couldn’t be utilized by Excela, Excela still has a major economic impact on Hempfield Township,” said township solicitor Scott Avolio. “They thought about it regionally and, if this money can be used by Excela in a neighboring municipality, Hempfield Township will still reap the benefits.”

The land is located along Route 30 near Mt. Pleasant Road and is adjacent to UPMC’s Weatherwood Manor and Excela’s Westmoreland Women’s Health facility. It is near the township’s border with Greensburg and South Greensburg and is next to a residential area off the Route 30 Summit Drive exit.

Excela first began discussing plans for the site in 2013. Despite not having a location for the project, the health organization the following year was awarded the state grant to help pay for the design and construction of the center. By 2015, Excela landed on a location and began the process of receiving township approval for a proposed 96,000-square-foot building and adjoining parking lot.

Excela planners proposed changes to Mt. Pleasant Road to improve the existing intersection with Weatherwood Lane and Route 30 and suggested connecting Weatherwood Lane to Spruce Street. However, as plans were developed, area residents began to push back because of the possibility of increased traffic.

Eventually, a traffic impact study and stormwater management plan associated with the project were completed.

Despite the plans being approved, Excela nixed the project, although company officials could not specify a time frame.

“While there was a level of community commentary regarding our original plans for Weatherwood, our decision to forego that initiative was based on us opting to pursue other strategic objectives,” Excela Spokesman Tom Chakurda said.

Hempfield Supervisor Doug Weimer said he didn’t believe the township’s actions were a factor in Excela’s decision to halt the project.

Excela is looking to build the orthopedic center at a different site.

“This is certainly a win-win scenario for Excela, Hempfield Township and Westmoreland County as a whole,” Excela CEO John Sphon said in a news release. “The township now has a location that can be developed and used to its benefit in myriad ways, and Excela can move forward in establishing a cutting-edge center for orthopedic care in our region.”

Future plans for the Hempfield site are unknown. The transaction between Hempfield and Excela is expected to be complete in October.

George Reese, chairman of the township supervisors, applauded the decision.

“This plan created a way to not only acquire a valuable site within the township, but to do so in a manner that maximized economic incentives for valued regional employers like Excela,” Reese said. “This is a great example of how local government leaders can find ways to benefit the community within and beyond its borders.”

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