Brian Rowell Daily Press Hannahville Indian Community officials break ground for the tribe’s new Health Clinic and Government Services Building Thursday in Hannahville. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

HANNAHVILLE — After a year and a haf of planning, ground was broke Wednesday for the Hannahville Indian Community’s new Health Clinic and Government Services Building.

Members of the Hannahville community joined with officials and others from throughout the area to commemorate the event.

The 60,000 square-foot building will include tribal courts, a food pantry, tribal government offices and a health, dental and vision center. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024 with Miron Construction Co. serving as construction manager and ISG serving as architect.

The ceremony was held at the site of the future building, just east of the Potawatomi Heritage Center at N15756 Hannahville B-1 Road.

The ceremony began with a honor song performed by tribal drummers. A blessing of the grounds was conducted by tribal elder Victoria Dowd.

Dowd called the site a place of healing that will help with spiritual and emotional growth.

“Our ancestors gave this to us,” Dowd told the crowd that gathered for the groundbreaking.

Tribal Chairman Kenneth Meshigaud remembered the offices in place when he first became involved in tribal government. He said it was a double-wide trailer where numerous coffee cans were kept on hand when it rained to catch the water from the leaking roof.

“We’ve come a long way and we still have a ways to go,” Meshigaud said.

Meshigaud said the planning stage for the project has been ongoing for the past year and a half. He thanked both Miron Construction and ISG for their work on the project.

Tim Kippenhan, vice president and COO of Miron Construction, thanked the tribe for working with the company. He said “the pressure is now on our shoulders” to complete the project.

For Tribal Health Director Cindy Meshigaud, the new health center has been a long time coming. She said she has been asking for a new building for the last 19 years.

“Its been a fight,” she said.

She said she is grateful that the health center will be able to add new services once the building is completed.