Newnan hospital on hold; economy blamed

Citing the recession, Piedmont Healthcare is suspending its $194 million plan to build a new hospital in Newnan. Officials said in a statement that the "current instability of the debt market" has caused them to "pause" the project for the next few months. Piedmont spokeswoman Nina Montanaro said Thursday officials had planned to go to the bond market and finance most of the project. She say's there's just not a market out there now. The 136-bed hospital would replace the one that Piedmont currently operates in Coweta County. Piedmont has broken ground, cleared land and done design plans for the new project at a site near Interstate 85. Chief operating officer Gregory Hurst says Piedmont's intent to move forward with the new hospital remains strong.

(Associated Press)