State budget advances plan to reopen Martin County hospital

July 13, 2026 - 15:06

ECU Health has received the state budget allocation necessary to move forward with converting the long-shuttered Martin General Hospital into a Rural Emergency Hospital. The funding, approved as part of the latest state budget, clears a major hurdle for the project that has been in development for months.

The plan involves reopening the facility in Williamston, which closed its doors in 2023 after years of financial struggles. Under the new model, the hospital will not offer full inpatient services but will instead operate as a 24-hour emergency room with around-the-clock observation beds. Patients who need longer hospital stays will be transferred to larger medical centers.

Local officials have pushed for the reopening, arguing that the loss of the hospital created a healthcare desert in the rural eastern North Carolina county. Residents previously faced drives of 30 minutes or more to reach the nearest emergency department. ECU Health has stated that the conversion will restore critical access to care while keeping the facility financially sustainable.

The budget line item covers initial renovation costs and equipment purchases. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with a target opening in 2025. The hospital will employ roughly 50 to 60 staff members, including physicians, nurses, and support personnel.