News Just In!
The Community Health Center of Burlington(CHCB) is very proud to announce our Federally Qualified Health Center has received HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) Facility Improvement Program funding to create an innovative new “green” health care facility in the heart of Burlington’s Old North End. This exciting expansion will position Chittenden County’s only Federally Qualified Health Center to expand services and care to community residents. By rebuilding and expanding our main Riverside Avenue facility, we will double the amount of space, which will allow us to expand access to our affordable primary and dental care, strengthen community partnerships, enhance health education opportunities and create jobs. The new health care facility will incorporate “green” design elements, improved patient care flow, expanded patient services and will add considerable beauty to our gateway location into the old North End of Burlington. Facility Improvement Program funding is specifically targeted for new building projects and job creation. It does not include funding for the ongoing operating expenses of CHCB’s programs and services. The FIP Award will also require CHCB to raise $400,000 in matching funds.
This project is expected to provide over 40 new jobs, including construction, health care providers, administrative and support staff. We will increase the number of our medical exam rooms from 18 to 24, dental operatories from 8 to 12 and counseling rooms from 4 to 7. This remarkable expansion will position Chittenden County’s only Federally Qualified Health Center to expand services to all community residents, especially those facing barriers to care.
“We are all absolutely delighted by the faith and support shown to the mission of the Community Health Center of Burlington,” says Interim Director Grace Gilbert Davis. “We had the opportunity to dream about what was possible for our community and our patients. This grant turns dreams into reality for community residents in need of access to affordable health care.”
Facility Improvement Funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers was extremely competitive, with less than 100 awards given out of 600 applicants. HRSA expects to award approximately $500 million dollars and had over $3 billion in requests. CHCB competed nationally for these funds with Federally Qualified Health Centers all over the country. It is testimony to both the need and the opportunity in Burlington, Vermont that HRSA recognized the potential impact of this project on our community. FQHC’s have enjoyed increasing prominence in our country’s health care reform efforts as a historically proven and cost effective safety net of care for 18 million Americans. CHCB is the only FQHC serving Chittenden County, serving approximately 13,000 patients.
CHCB would especially like to thank the community stakeholders and supporters that made a project of this vision possible; Senator Bernie Sanders for his national leadership on the role of FQHC’s in health care reform; Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch for their dedicated support of FQHC’s; our volunteer and patient based Board of Directors for their vision and dedication to the work of the Health Center; our hard working, mission driven and dedicated staff; the City of Burlington for their guidance and support; Northern Architects for their concept drawings; and most especially, the generous community donors who helped create our original site on Riverside Avenue almost a decade ago. Through their remarkable philanthropy, CHCB experienced what was possible for our patients through an innovative space. Today, we look forward to another transformational phase in the history of CHCB and an even greater ability to care for our community. Over the next two years, we look forward to working with our community, donors, patients and staff to create a visionary health center (FQHC) that will invest in the health of Vermonters for generations to come.
