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A mental health crisis and recovery center is coming to West St. Paul after Dakota County and Guild broke ground earlier this week.
What: A 16,000-square-foot building on the northeast corner of the Dakota County Northern Service Center that will house intensive residential treatment, crisis services, and a “welcoming place to go” 24/7 run by Guild Services (an organization that has worked in the community for decades).
Opening: Construction work will happen through 2024 with an opening planned for early 2025.
Leaders Speak in Support
- Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins: “It really does takes folks at the very darkest moments in their lives, when they need to be closest to their families, and it keeps them close to home. It gives them the sort of service that they need in order to turn the corner and move in a positive direction.”
- State Senator Matt Klein: “This is actually going to save lives.”
- State Rep. Mary Frances Clardy: “This is crucial. This is real.”
- Guild CEO Julie Bluhm: “Dakota County’s support in this project is a model because we need these services in all of our communities.”
- West St. Paul City Council Member Lisa Eng-Sarne: “As I sat in a chair and listened to Joe Atkins talk about the center, I could not help but notice how safe the space felt, how peaceful, and I was proud that our community members would have this as a place to heal.” Eng-Sarne also noted it felt like the most significant groundbreaking in her time on Council.
(Photos courtesy Dakota County.)
More Details
Learn more about the project from Dakota County.
Funding: Money to pay for the project includes $4.6 million in federal funds, a nearly $3.5 million state grant, and $6 million in state bonding.
Environmental design: The center is being built with energy-saving features including rooftop solar panels to generate energy on-site, a geothermal system to heat and cool the building and native plantings to reduce irrigation and maintenance.
History: The facility will replace and expand on three aging homes in South St. Paul. The project faced pushback from neighbors last fall before being approved unanimously by City Council and seeing majority support from residents.
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