A deal has been signed to bring a 40-bed permanent hospital to St. Bernard Parish by the end of 2010.

St. Bernard’s primary health care has been provided out of a mobile facility since Katrina and the announcement of a permanent building is a significant step forward, according to Parish President Craig Taffaro.

“It not only gives a symbolic gesture of safety and security, but it’s gonna be one of those things that serves as an economic engine to our recovery,” he said.

Taffaro says the hospital is part of a long list of things to do to get St. Bernard back on its feet and help lure former residents to come home.

"So many people who are considering returning have mentioned that the presence of a hospital is a major factor in their decision,” said Taffaro. “This is one of those top probably two or three issues for most people in the recovery of our parish."

The facility will likely be built just across Judge Perez Drive from the parish governmental complex.

The funding for the hospital was helped along after the parish council created a ‘hospital service district’ that will receive $25 million to help with the hospital’s construction.