New Regional Mental Health Center Eyes 2027 Opening in Clovis

The $9.5 million facility will serve several counties in eastern New Mexico once licensing is completed.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:00am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image revealing the internal structure of a multi-story building, conceptually representing the complex systems and facilities needed for a modern mental health treatment center.An X-ray view of the new Horizon Behavioral Health Center under construction, highlighting the complex infrastructure required to provide comprehensive mental health services.Portales Today

Construction on a new 12,000-square-foot regional mental health center in Clovis, New Mexico is expected to be completed by September 2026, but it could take another 3-6 months to obtain state licensing before the facility can open for business in early 2027. The $9.5 million center will serve Curry, Roosevelt, Quay, DeBaca and Union counties, as well as the cities of Clovis, Portales, and the village of Fort Sumner.

Why it matters

The new mental health center aims to provide immediate crisis support and intervention for individuals facing mental health challenges in an underserved region of eastern New Mexico. The facility is a significant investment in improving access to critical mental health services for residents across multiple counties.

The details

The Horizon Behavioral Health Center is under construction near Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, on 21st Street west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Clovis is serving as the fiscal agent and owner of the property, which was funded by a $10 million capital outlay grant from the governor in 2023. Once completed, the center will be operated by Community Bridges Inc., which is now actively recruiting leadership for the new facility.

  • Construction on the center began in August 2025.
  • Construction is expected to be completed by September 2026.
  • State licensing is anticipated to take an additional 3-6 months after the certificate of occupancy is issued.
  • The center is expected to open for business in early 2027.

The players

Curry County Commission

The county commission is overseeing the development of the new mental health center.

Justin Howalt

The Clovis City Manager, who provided updates on the construction timeline.

Rob Neely

A representative from Community Bridges Inc., the organization that will operate the new mental health facility.

Donna Mowrer

The District Judge who participated in the joint online meeting about the center's progress.

Community Bridges Inc.

The organization that will operate the new Horizon Behavioral Health Center.

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What they’re saying

“Construction that started last August was expected to be completed within a year. However, weather delays experienced the past few months make completion more likely sometime in September.”

— Justin Howalt, Clovis City Manager

“We expect licensing to be completed closer to three months once the city grants a certificate of occupancy.”

— Rob Neely, Representative, Community Bridges Inc.

What’s next

Once construction is completed in September 2026, the city of Clovis will issue a certificate of occupancy, after which Community Bridges Inc. will work to obtain state licensing over the following 3-6 months. The new Horizon Behavioral Health Center is expected to open for business in early 2027.

The takeaway

The new regional mental health center represents a significant investment in improving access to critical mental health services for residents across multiple counties in eastern New Mexico. The facility's delayed opening due to licensing requirements highlights the challenges of establishing new healthcare infrastructure, but also the determination of local officials and community partners to bring this much-needed resource to the region.