St. Johnsbury, July 27, 2023 – Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC) is pleased to announce that Catamount Arts has been selected as a temporary co-tenant at the newly renovated Caplan’s Building, located at 457 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury. The Caplan’s Building, was acquired by NCHC in October 2021 after the closure of the beloved Caplan’s Army Store on December 31, 2020. The building has been recently renovated and will be the new location for Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury. Northern Counties Health Care is excited to open its doors to support the arts community and create a hub for creativity and cultural engagement.
A committee comprising representatives from NCHC staff, board of directors, and the St. Johnsbury community spearheaded the selection process. The 800 sq/ft space within the Caplan’s Building was made available through a letter of interest solicitation process. Catamount Arts emerged as the top choice to occupy the space while their building is temporarily closed. Catamount Arts, an esteemed cultural institution in the Northeast Kingdom, has been instrumental in promoting arts, film, and education in the region for many years. This exciting opportunity to temporarily occupy the newly renovated space at the Caplan’s Building will allow Catamount Arts to maintain a downtown presence and support its mission of enriching the community with creative endeavors and cultural experiences.
“The Caplan’s Building will continue to serve our community, and we are excited to welcome Catamount Arts to share the space with us,” said Chris Towne, Chief Strategy Officer at Northern Counties Health Care. “There is more to a community’s health than health care services, and we are pleased to support Catamount Arts and promote the region’s creative economy by sharing this vibrant space.” The Caplan’s Building, with its rich history, now enters a new chapter as a space for community enrichment. Northern Counties Health Care is excited about the potential of this collaboration to strengthen community ties and offer residents of St. Johnsbury and the surrounding areas a space to experience the transformative power of art.
“We are grateful to Northern Counties Health Care for this wonderful opportunity,” said Catamount Arts Executive Director Jody Fried. “Being able to continue our programs and initiatives from this centrally located space will allow us to further our mission and continue positively impacting the lives of people in the Northeast Kingdom.”
An open house and ribbon cutting of the Caplan’s Building including Northern Express Care – St. Johnsbury and Catamount Arts’ temporary location is scheduled for August 10th at 2pm.