Polk officials announced this week that the county has been certified by the state to have a dialysis center.

Polk manager Ryan Whitson told the Polk County Board of Commissioners Monday that DaVita, the company that applied for the certificate of needs, should be looking to purchase property in the county within three to four months.

DaVita plans to bring a 10-bed center to Polk County. By the end of the center&39;s first year, it is expected to house 32 patients from Polk, Rutherford and Spartanburg counties.

Plans are for DaVita to upfit a building for about $1 million. Long-term goals are for the center&39;s capacity to rise to 40 patients. The center will begin by employing nine people.

Polk commissioners Monday thanked county manager Whitson for helping to bring a dialysis center to Polk County because the project in part has been done through Whitson&squo;s contacts.

Polk County Economic Development Director Kipp McIntyre said this week that the EDC (economic development commission) board&squo;s hard work has paid off with the certificate of needs announcement.

&dquo;DaVita will begin working on the model and will start the property search in about three months,&dquo; McIntyre said. &dquo;Congratulations and thank you to all the EDC members who worked to make this happen.&dquo;