Congresswoman Newman announces $70 million in grants to seven Health Centers
Grants awarded as a part of an expansion of COVID-19 vaccines for hardest-hit and highest-risk communities. Beginning April 1, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to invest over $6 billion nationally in Community Health Centers to expand access to vaccines in underserved communities
CHICAGO, IL – Today, U.S. Representative Marie Newman (IL-03) announced that a total of $70,444,125 in grant funding from the American Rescue Plan will be directed to seven community health centers with locations in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District as part of an effort to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and treatment for the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities. Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) beginning April 1, the $6 billion in funding nationally will benefit nearly 1,400 centers across the country and 45 health centers in Illinois.
“Our community health centers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic since day one, ensuring our hardest-hit communities are safe and protected even as their own institutions faced financial challenges and uncertainty. The American Rescue Plan continues to live up to the hope it promised Americans by bolstering the vaccine distribution in our neighborhoods that need it the most while also providing comprehensive economic relief for individuals and local small businesses,” said Congresswoman Newman.
“I’m beyond thrilled to see these funds going directly to community health centers serving Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District and I know that each of my constituents will be as well. I could not be prouder to have voted for this landmark legislation. We will continue to build on this progress from here and ensure that every American has access to receiving their vaccine when it’s their time.”
The seven health centers with locations in IL-03 that are receiving grants as part of the American Rescue Plan include:
Pillars Community Health – $1,436,375
Access Community Health Network – $31,443,750
Friend Family Health Center – $6,156,875
Howard Brown Health Center – $6,226,875
VNA Healthcare – $16,730,125
University of Illinois Medical Center – $6,871,750
TCA Health, Inc. – $1,578,375
In addition to expanding vaccine access, the funding will deliver preventive and primary health care services to people at higher risk for COVID-19; and expand health centers’ operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units. For the past year, these community health centers have provided quality care to the district’s most vulnerable communities and populations.
Community Health Centers serve 1 in 5 people living in rural communities. More than 91% of health center patients are individuals or families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and more than 60% are racial or ethnic minorities.
For detailed information on how this funding is being distributed to health centers nationwide, including state-by-state breakdowns and an interactive health center funding map, please visit: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/program-opportunities/american-rescue-plan/awards.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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