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Officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate the start of construction of the new Benton County Crisis Center at 240 N.W. Fourth St. in Corvallis.

The crisis center will allow the Benton County Health Department to expand its crisis care coverage and offer walk-in mental health services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It will also provide a place for people to stabilize from mental health crises. The center will be a resource for community partners, from nonprofits to law enforcement agencies, that need help accessing behavioral health care for clients and community members.

The project is part of the county’s multiyear Justice System Improvement Program that includes development of multiple new facilities. Addressing mental health needs is a primary focus of the program’s vision for enhanced county programs and facilities, a press release states.

The $7.7 million crisis center project, fully funded by state and federal grants, began in 2022 with site selection. Then Mahlum was selected as the architect and Gerding Builders was selected as the general contractor.

Demolition of an old auto dealership building at the site was completed in 2022. Permitting began in April and ground was broken in early spring.

Officials expect the crisis center to open for services in summer 2024.