With Sharon Regional Medical Center expected to reopen soon, the Hermitage Board of Commissioners approved a loan that would give the hospital's buyer a head start.

Hermitage Commissioner Duane Piccirilli tells 21 News commissioners unanimously voted to approve a $250,000 loan with Penn Northwest Development Corporation as the broker.

Piccirilli says the money from the loan can be used for payroll, equipment or supplies to operate the hospital. 

This comes just days after reports that Sharon Regional was expected to reopen next week following a settlement agreement regarding a lawsuit against Medical Properties Trust (MPT).

Tenor Health is expected to take over operations, but Piccirilli says even if the Tenor deal falls through, the loan will still be good for any other company who steps in to take over operations at the hospital.

Piccirilli says he and the Board of Commissioners are optimistic that the hospital can resume operations soon. These sentiments have been echoed by several other Mercer County leaders.

You can read much more about the agreement reached to reopen the hospital in our related coverage below.

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