North Carolina Awards ECU Health $25M for Rural Emergency Hospital
The North Carolina General Assembly gave ECU Health $25 million on Oct. 8 to help restore emergency care in Martin County by converting the closed Martin General Hospital into the state's first rural emergency hospital. The award is part of a larger $75 million state investment in ECU Health's regional system of care, with $60 million total going to the new rural emergency hospital and $15 million to planning for an expansion of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. Martin General closed in August 2023; ECU Health announced plans to reopen it as a rural emergency hospital in May 2025 and signed a nonbinding letter of intent with the county in July 2025. Funds will be released over time based on project milestones as the system navigates federal and state regulatory requirements.