IRON MOUNTAIN — A $16.9 million loan secured Tuesday through the U.S. Department of Agriculture will enable Dickinson County Healthcare System to provide the region with the most technologically advanced medical equipment available, officials said in a press release Wednesday.

“This is the culmination of a two-year process, and we are glad to get the loan documents signed and the money deposited into our account,” said Brian Donahue, DCH chief financial officer. “The improved performance of the hospital over the past two years ultimately made the loan possible,” he added.

DCH has allocated the money for debt refinancing and major capital purchases, including a new linear accelerator used for cancer radiation treatment, a new CT scanner, a new magnetic resonance imaging unit, and a new nuclear medicine SPECT CT scanner.

On Tuesday, DCH CEO Chuck Nelson joined DCH Hospital Board Executive Committee members and Donahue in signing the closing documents to secure the Rural Development funds.

“Closing the USDA loan is a significant win for our organization as it allows us to focus on our future and the growth of this health system,” Nelson said. “Thank you to all who supported our pursuit of the loan. And hats off to Brian and his team for getting this across the finish line,” he said.