Pullman Regional Hospital announced Friday that it is advancing part of its new expansion project using private funds following two bond election failures last year.

Pullman voters denied the tax increase required to fund the $29 million project twice last year. The tax increase would’ve paid for much of the project had it passed.

The part of the bond proposal that is moving forward is space for a Family Medicine Residency Program for WSU students of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

The project is planned to directly benefit medical students at WSU by giving them real experience in their field before they graduate.

PRH officials are moving forward with the residency program using private fundraising. About $2.7 million through private funding is necessary for the current project to move forward. These funds are being used to renovate the hospital’s current administrative office for use in this program, and the offices will be moved to unused space in the current building.

Pullman Regional Hospital Commissioners are still considering another bond election vote for the “Next Era of Excellence” expansion project.