Construction is now underway at a new 53-acre Multiplex Business Park owned by Bruno Brothers Management and Development Co.

Bruno Bros. Management and Development Co. closed on deals paving the way for construction to begin on facilities for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and Medline. HCA will construct a new 77,000-sq.-ft. service facility that will house approximately 100 employees and serve HCA-owned and operated hospitals.

The presence of HCA in the Multiplex triggered the interest of one of its suppliers, Medline, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of medical products in the nation, based in Chicago. Medline will build a 120,000-sq.-ft. warehouse to distribute directly to HCA and other customers in the area.

Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was first interested in the site, located off Interstate 12 and LA 1077 near Madisonville because it was located near other HCA hospitals in the area, facilitating distribution. HCA is one of Medline's largest customers and it made logistical sense to locate a distribution center with them.

"This project represents an $11 million investment that will provide approximately 100 jobs with a $5.2 million annual impact on the local economy," said Robert Bruno of Bruno Bros.

"The idea of cluster development worked perfectly here. We attracted HCA to the site and that sparked the interest of Medline, a companion supplier. This is Medline's first distribution facility in Louisiana and the strategy is hopefully a model for others to replicate throughout the state of Louisiana."

Together, HCA and Medline will occupy 10 acres of the 53-acre Multiplex site. Construction should be complete in 10 months, said Mike Saucier, president of Gulf States Real Estate Services, which is handling project management and sales.

The building contractor is Epstein Construction from Chicago and Byron Talbot Contractors will construct infrastructure.