Kaweah Health photo

A new state program for distressed hospitals has selected two Central Valley facilities for more than $72 million in rescue funding.

Another local hospital received zero funding. There were 30 applicants total for the program.

The Distressed Hospital Loan Program support means hope that Madera Community Hospital could reopen after closing nearly a year ago. A $2 million, no-interest bridge loan from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information will cover basic operational costs as suitor Adventist Health prepares a turnaround plan.

Once the plan is approved, Madera Community Hospital would be eligible for another $50 million loan through the program.

Visalia’s Kaweah Delta Health Care District, which also faces financial trouble, was awarded a $20.75 million loan.

Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville applied for $17.35 million in assistance, which the 167-bed district hospital would use to “strengthen operations, enhance staff development, and ensure the continuation of key healthcare services for the local community,” according to hospital officials earlier this month.

Sierra View was not among the 17 hospitals announced Thursday.

Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) authored legislation with Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) to launch the loan program in response to the closure of Madera Community Hospital.

“Reopening Madera Community Hospital has been my number one priority,” Assemblywoman Soria said in a news release. “This financial assistance is an important step in the right direction to help Madera Community Hospital reopen its doors to the community. We have more work to do, but I’m proud to have led this effort, and am grateful the Legislature and Governor moved quickly to ensure vulnerable communities across California have health care access when they need it most. I remain hopeful and will continue to work hard to ensure Madera Community Hospital reopens.”

Hospitals receiving support:

Beverly Hospital — $5 million

Chinese Hospital — $10.35 million

Dameron Hospital Association —  $29 million

El Centro Regional Medical Center — $28 million

Hayward Sisters Hospital, dba St. Rose Hospital — $17.65 million

Hazel Hawkins Memorial — $10 million

John C. Fremont Healthcare District — $9.35 million

Kaweah Delta Health Care District — $20.75 million

Madera Community Hospital — $2 million

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital — $14 million

Palo Verde Hospital — $8.5 million

Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District — $28 million

Ridgecrest Regional Hospital — $5.5 million

San Gorgonio Memorial Healthcare District — $9.8 million

Sonoma Valley Hospital — $3.1 million

TriCity Medical Center — $33.2 million

Watsonville Community Hospital — $8.3 million