By HFT Staff

The Pajaro Valley Health Care District Hospital Corp. announced that it has acquired Watsonville Community Hospital in California, following the largest community fundraising campaign in the history of Santa Cruz County. This milestone positions the hospital to continue serving the community as a non-profit provider, with the ongoing support of new ownership that understands the importance of continuing to deliver quality healthcare services to everyone in the Pajaro Valley. 

Earlier this year, the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project announced and led the fundraising effort to save the hospital. The project worked with the Pajaro Valley community — including individuals, community businesses, associations, organizations, local, county and state governments as well as corporate partners — to raise the necessary funds to acquire Watsonville Community Hospital. 

Also, State Senator John Laird and Assembly member Robert Rivas led the creation of the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District and successfully secured a $25 million appropriation from the state of California to support the transaction. 

With the sale of the hospital approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Jose, the hospital has successfully emerged from Chapter 11.