BELHAVEN — Pantego Creek LLC has signed a $1 million deal to turn over the old hospital building in Belhaven to Strategic Health Care.

The decision was announced on Friday.

Pantego Creek’s four managers, Brantley Tillman, Lynn Ross, Deb Sparrow and Darren Armstrong, must now obtain approval from its approximately 100 members to move forward.

Tillman confirmed the signing, but declined to comment further on the deal.

Strategic Health Care LLC was created to handle a plan for veterans care in Belhaven, through its affiliate People’s Choice Hospital Management Group, contracting with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide 30-35 beds specifically for veterans once the facility reopens, according to project manager Mike Hall.

It rolled out its plan to the public in March.

Mayor Adam O’Neal said the deal is a positive step in the fight to reopen the hospital.

“This is evidence that hard work, prayer and faith can do miracles,” he said. “This is another obstacle cleared in the path to reopening our hospital.”

Strategic Health Care presented the offer a couple of months ago, but in a previous interview, Tillman said the Pantego Creek managers did not consider it to be a valid offer.

The Town of Belhaven initially tried to obtain the property through eminent domain, but the plan did not come to fruition. In mid-July, another obstacle arose when the deadline for a $6 million United States Department of Agriculture loan to cover costs of reopening passed before the property could be obtained.

There is no word on the next steps the Town will take regarding the USDA loan.

The Town has been in and out of court with Pantego Creek and Vidant Health, which closed Vidant Pungo Hospital in 2014 due to deficits, and has also enlisted the help of the state NAACP.

“We’re just excited to be able to move forward,” O’Neal said. “This is a great day, not only for Belhaven, but for veterans all across the area.”

Hall was not immediately available for comment.