22 community health centers receiving grants for projects from MassDevelopment
May 3, 2022 : Boston Business Journal, by Cassie McGrath
The state’s development finance agency and land bank, MassDevelopment, is issuing 22 grants to community health centers totaling over $1 million to fund capital improvement projects in construction, renovation, equipment, furniture, technology and facility needs related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“By providing affordable health care and social services to vulnerable populations across Massachusetts, community health centers are indispensable assets in our neighborhoods,” MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera said in a statement. “As we try to bounce back from the pandemic, it’s as important as ever to support the critical capital projects and improvements of these organizations through our Community Health Center Grant Program.”
Each health center had to apply for the grants in December. Up to $50,000 was available to each organization through MassDevelopment’s Community Health Center Grant Program, an initiative funded by the MassDevelopment/Massachusetts Health Educational Facilities Authority Charitable trust to support the services health centers provide in Massachusetts.
The following Health Centers received Community Health Center Grant Program awards in fiscal 2022:
Manet Community Health Center, Attleboro - $31,191
The new Attleboro Manet location, is expected to expand in 2022, plans to use the grant funds to build a public restroom.
Charles River Community Health, Inc, Boston & Waltham - $50,000
CRCH plans to use funds to buy and replace dental equipment including dental chairs, x-rays and lights for seven dental exam rooms in Brighton and four dental exam rooms in Waltham.
Codman Square Health Center, Boston - $50,000
CSHS will replace the leaking roof at its administrative and special services building, The Great Hall with the funds.
Dimock Community Health Center, Inc, Boston - $50,000
Dimock will use grant funds to expand its dental and eye clinics.
Fenway Health, Boston - $50,000
Fenway Health plans to renovate space in its primary building to create a centralized sterile processing center with the funding.
Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Boston - $50,000
HSNHC will buy dental equipment and replace outdated dental chairs for its dental clinic with the grant.
North End Community Health Committee, Inc, Boston - $50,000
The center will repair the roof of its location in the North End with the funds.
South Cove Community Health Center, Boston - $32,094
South Cove will use funds to replace outdated equipment used for sterilization and vaccine storage like refrigerators and freezers.
Upham’s Corner Health Center, Boston - $50,000
UCHC plans to put the funding toward upgrading an accessibility exam table, a pediatric exam table, diagnostic wall units and exam room desks and stools.
Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Inc, Cape Cod - $50,000
The center plans to use the grant to expand and implement an access control security system and targeted camera upgrade to increase visibility in vulnerable areas at its locations in Bourne, Centerville, Falmouth, Mashpee and Sandwich.
Island Health Care, Inc, Edgartown - $50,000
Island Health will construct a dental center with the funding, including building three operatories, a laboratory and additional space for employees and patient services.
Community Health Connections, Inc, Gardner - $50,000
CHC is putting the funds towards an already existing project. The $50,000 will create two urgent care rooms within its new site, a 20,000-square-foot community health center that is under construction in Gardner.
North Shore Community Health, Gloucester, Peabody & Salem - $50,000
NSCH is going to purchase dental equipment for its Gloucester Family Health Center, Peabody Family Health Center and Salem Family Health Center with the funds.
Holyoke Health Center, Inc, Holyoke - $50,000
HHC recently purchased a building near its Holyoke location to expand its campus. The grant funds will be used to improve safety and security in the building’s free parking lot.
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lawrence - $50,000
GLFHC is going to purchase a point-of-care ultrasound machine with the funds, allowing the center to integrate musculoskeletal, abdominal, pulmonary, cardiac and OB ultrasounds into its outpatient clinic and its new first trimester prenatal clinic.
Community Health Programs, North Adams - $50,000
CHP will use grant funds to add two additional dental exam rooms to its North Adams Medical and Dental Center practice.
Community Health Centers of Franklin County, Inc, Orange - $50,000
The center will renovate its Orange-based Health Center Plaza with the funds, expanding operations and services into empty areas in the building.
Outer Cape Health Services, Inc, Provincetown - $50,000
Outer Cape Health Services will upgrade and renovate its Provincetown Health Center with the grant, moving and expanding pharmacy operations to a different location within the health center.
Manet Community Health Center, Quincy- $50,000
Manet will use the funds to build, equip and furnish a radiology suite at the organization’s North Quincy location.
Caring Health Center, Springfield - $47,725
CHC plans to use the funds to purchase equipment and supplies for proposed chiropractic and physical therapy programs.
Community Healthlink, Inc, Worcester - $50,000
The center plans to use the grant to demolish and rebuild the restroom at its location on Chandler Street, an initiative it sees as an essential part of its Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Inc, Worcester - $45,000
Kennedy Community Health just bought a building in Worcester and will use the grant funds as part of its renovation, buying and installing tempered glass screens at three reception areas in the building.
