WAVY News: Community health centers share $13.5M

RICHMOND, Va. - Two dozen community health centers in Virginia will share more than $13.5 million in federal stimulus funding to maintain facilities and to improve services.

U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Webb said Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the funding.

The grants range from $96,445 awarded to Stony Creek Community Health Center in Stony Creek to $1.7 million awarded to Central Virginia Health Services in New Canton.

"This $13.5 million investment will help to ensure that community health facilities are properly maintained and are able to provide access to quality health services to our neediest Americans," said Senator Webb. "Funds for these improvements and services will help create jobs and ensure that community health centers continue to serve as a safety net for Virginians who wouldn't otherwise have the means to see a primary care doctor."

"These grants will help our community health centers continue to expand access to quality health care services for Virginians who don’t have health coverage," Senator Warner said. "These projects also will help us create or preserve health care provider jobs, especially in many of our rural areas."

A news release from the U.S. Senate notes the following:

The Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.

This investment is the third installment of economic recovery funding to Virginia’s community health centers. On March 31, Senators Webb and Warner announced $5.2 million to create and save staff positions at these twenty-four community health centers. An additional $5.76 million was made available on May 19 to establish 5 new health centers in the Commonwealth.

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/health_va_ap_richmond_health_centers_get_money_20090630