MOULTRIE, GA —The groundbreaking ceremony brought together Colquitt Regional leaders, Hospital Authority trustees, Foundation Board members, physicians, employees, volunteers, campaign supporters, donors and members of the Hufstetler family to celebrate the beginning of the transformational project.
“Today represents much more than the beginning of a construction project,” said Colquitt Regional Health System President and CEO Jim Matney. “It represents growth, progress and an investment in the future of our community. As Colquitt Regional continues to grow, so does our ability to create jobs, attract physicians and contribute to the economic strength of this region. Most importantly, this project ensures that exceptional healthcare remains available right here for generations to come.”
The four-story Hufstetler Tower is being built in response to the continued growth of Colquitt Regional and the increasing number of patients choosing the health system for their care. Growth has been particularly significant in areas including women’s health, surgery, cardiology and other specialty services.
When completed, the Hufstetler Tower will expand the hospital’s capacity from 99 beds to 155 beds and will include expanded surgical services, an expanded Maternal Infant Unit, increased intensive care and telemetry capabilities, and additional private patient rooms.
The project also represents an investment in the future of the region’s healthcare workforce. Colquitt Regional anticipates that the growth associated with the tower will bring approximately 35 additional physicians and 500 new jobs to the community.
The impact of Colquitt Regional extends well beyond the care provided within its walls. According to Georgia Hospital Association’s 2026 data, the health system contributes an estimated $586.2 million in economic impact to Colquitt County and supports nearly 3,000 jobs in the local community, with 1,639 of those being full-time employees within the health system.
“The Hufstetler Tower is one of those decisions that looks beyond the needs of today and focuses on ensuring quality healthcare remains strong and accessible,” said Hospital Authority Chairman John Griffin. “This project represents a significant investment not only in a new facility, but in our patients, employees, physicians and the overall strength of our community.”
In 2024, Colquitt Regional Medical Foundation launched its Reaching New Heights Capital Campaign, a $15 million philanthropic effort supporting the project. To date, the campaign has raised more than $13.7 million. Colquitt Regional employees have contributed $2 million through the Employee Giving program, while the health system’s volunteers have pledged $350,000. Individuals, families, businesses, foundations and community partners have also contributed to the campaign.
“This campaign is a true reflection of the generosity and belief our employees, volunteers and community have in the future of Colquitt Regional,” said Hospital Trustee and Reaching New Heights Capital Campaign Chairman Maureen Yearta, Ed.D. “So many people have chosen to invest in this project because they understand that the Hufstetler Tower is about building a stronger healthcare system for the generations who will call this community home. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this vision possible. But our work is not finished. We still have ground to cover to reach our $15 million goal, and we hope others throughout our community will be inspired to join us as we complete this campaign and invest in the future of healthcare for our region.”
A lead gift of $5 million from Teresa and Steve Hufstetler helped propel the campaign forward and led to the naming of the new facility as the Hufstetler Tower. Their gift reflects their belief in the future of Colquitt Regional and their commitment to the health and well-being of the community.
“Today is an exciting milestone for Colquitt Regional and for our community,” said Steve Hufstetler. “Teresa and I are honored to be part of a project that will expand access to care and strengthen healthcare for the people of this region. Having grown up here and knowing so many families who depend on Colquitt Regional, we hope the Hufstetler Tower will serve this community well for generations to come.”
While the groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction, the vision for the Hufstetler Tower has been years in the making. Colquitt Regional recognized the need to expand its facilities as the health system continued to grow, attract physicians and serve more patients from throughout the region.
The project is being designed by Curtis Coleman, Calleigh Freese and TMPartners, with Doster Construction serving as the general contractor. Mike Noli, Jacob Odom and NWG are coordinating the project management and planning process. The project team is expected to continue construction through the tower’s anticipated opening in 2028.
“Today is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Colquitt Regional,” Matney said. “We are grateful to everyone who has helped bring this vision to life, and we look forward to watching the Hufstetler Tower rise and seeing the impact it will have on our patients, our employees and our community.”
For more information on the Reaching New Heights capital campaign, please contact Development Director Nicole Stringer at 229-890-3416.
