Shovels and dirt fly at the Tu Casa groundbreaking. From left are SWNMCOG's Priscilla Lucero, Silver City Councilor Cynthia Bettison, White Sands Construction representative Shyla Williamson, Tu Casa Committee members Susie Trujillo and Ron Hall, architect Kevin Robinson, Grant County manager Charlene Webb, Sen. Howie Morales, Grant County Commissioner Harry Browne, Rep. Rodolopho "Rudy" Martinez, HMS's CEO Dan Otero, and Commissioner Alicia Edwards.

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce president Scott Terry spoke first and said the groundbreaking for the Tu Casa substance abuse treatment center was a dream come true.

County Commissioner Alicia Edwards said Ron Hall, who was the persistent one behind the effort, "epitomizes what it means to be of service to the community. He has served in law enforcement, as a magistrate judge and as a commissioner. No one does a project by themselves, but every project needs a visionary. Ron kept it going."

Hall thanked everyone in attendance. "I address you on behalf of the Tu Casa planning committee." He named Susie Trujillo, Mike Carillo, Chris DeBolt and Jim and Chris Helgert.

"Tu Casa is a recovery-focused, comprehensive, coordinated continuum of care," Hall continued. The planning committee, he said studied the community profile, put together statistics and added technical capacity.

"In Phase I, we learned we needed additional substance abuse treatment and found out what we had was siloed," Hall said. "In Phase II, we conducted a sustainability study. Phase III happened when Grant County passed a gross receipts tax that would raise $2 million. In Phase IV, Silver City agreed to lease the land from the State Land Trust and we developed an RFP for services. Sen. Howie Morales got us $186,000 and we applied for and got $500,000 from a Community Development Block Grant.

"We found a service provider when Hidalgo Medical Services stepped up to the plate in Phase V," he continued. "We developed the entry process, and created a financial advisory council."

He said the groundbreaking and beginning of construction is Phase VI. Phase VII will happen in the first part of 2018 when the facility opens.

"We are now having monthly meetings with HMS," Hall said. "Jim Helgert's Recovering Management will be part of the process. It is the taxpaying citizens of Grant County who pay the gross receipts tax. I must thank architect Kevin Robinson and County Manager Charlene Webb for their help."