Blair County commissioners have approved an agreement that will provide $1 million in state financing to Altoona Regional Health System.
 
Commissioners were briefed on a project last week that will allow for an upgrade of the electrical system at the Outpatient Center that will ultimately provide additional power for equipment needed to care for radiation and heart catheterization patients.
 
The hospital will receive $1 million through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for the upgrade and the health system will dole out $1.3 million for the project.
In order to receive funding the county was asked to sign a cooperation agreement with the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation for administration of the grant.
 
As part of the agreement the county agrees to pick up all costs associated with the project that are ineligible for funding under regulations of the state program however ABCD will sign an agreement with the county to pay all such costs.
 
The project is slated to begin in October, be completed in April of 2013 and cost nearly $2.3 million.