CUMMINGTON — Residents of Plainfield and Cummington say that they are optimistic about a proposed adult drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility planned for a 600-acre property that spans both towns.

The Nashville-based Freedom Healthcare of America, which does business as Addiction Campuses of America, hopes to purchase the property at 151 South St. in Cummington, which was most recently the Swift River Academy, a coeducational therapeutic boarding school for teens that closed in 2013.

Michael Kalagher, general manager of the Old Creamery Co-op in Cummington, said that an addiction treatment center is in line with what he sees as the compassionate character of the Hilltowns.

“I have heard no negative comments about this. These Hilltowns are very caring communities, and that is a very caring use of that facility,” Kalagher said.

Kalagher also noted that the rehabilitation center could boost the economy of the area, particularly in light of last year’s closing of the Berkshire TrailElementary School in Cummington, and the lack of any high-speed Internet, both of which he says are disincentives for young families to remain in the Hilltowns.

“Those things are big deterrents to the health and growth of the community. So I think that the general sentiment around here is that anything that will bring more employment to our sleepy little Hilltowns is a good thing,” Kalagher said.

According to Brian Sullivan, director of public relations for Addiction Campuses of America, which is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, the company hopes to employ about 200 local people.

Bob and Sally Silberberg have lived in Plainfield for over 40 years and say that there is a need for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in the region.

“Drug addiction is a serious issue and I don’t know if there are any other facilities like this around here that deal with it,” Bob Silberberg said.

“I think it is a great use of the property,” Sally Silberberg added, noting that she does not live close to the proposed facility. “I think the people that will be most affected by this are the people who live right next door.”

One Cummngton resident who was interviewed on Thursday at his home at 154 South St. said that he would have no problem with the potential new neighbors.

“That property has been a white elephant up there. Millions have been spent on different businesses there but nothing has really been that successful,” Roger Wolf said. “Maybe this will be different.”

Wolf said that the new use would not be that dissimilar from the prior therapeutic school for troubled teens.

“They had the kids here for several years and there were never any problems,” Wolf said. “And while that was a lock-down facility that could have had problems with runaways, this would be a place where people go voluntarily, to get the help they want.”

Wolf said that he will probably attend the Cummington Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on April 21, when the company will come before the board to discuss its proposal. That meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Cummington Meeting House and is open to the public.

A similar meeting will be held by the Plainfield ZBA at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Town Hall.

Fran Ryan can be reached at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.