New facility to serve thousands while creating construction and healthcare jobs in Nipomo

NIPOMO - Today, Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) announced that the Nipomo Community Health Clinic has been awarded a federal grant of over $7.5 million to build a new community health center in Nipomo.  The grant is being made under the provisions of the recently passed health care reform act, which Capps helped passed earlier this year.  In addition, last month many of the most important consumer protections – the Patients’ Bill of Rights – went into effect.

“Healthcare reform will improve the quality and availability of care in many ways and this grant is evidence of that.  These funds will help Nipomo’s community health center provide care for many of our friends and neighbors,” said Capps.  “But, just as important, this grant will also create jobs right now and in the future.”

“As the management of Community Health Centers of the Central Coast Inc., we were honored to learn from Congresswomen Capps' office that our nonprofit corporation has been awarded $7.5 million to build a modern, state-of-the-art medical facility in Nipomo. These funds represent tax dollars being returned to the Central Coast to help improve access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare to over 30,000 patients,” said CEO Ronald E. Castle. 

In addition to the medical, dental, chiropractic, mental health and ancillary services to be provided to patients at the new facility, the project is expected to provide employment for over 100 construction and trade workers during the eighteen-month construction period.  When completed, the facility is expected to add an additional 30 employees to the current staff.

The funds made available through this grant are the first in a series of awards that will be made available to community health centers under the Affordable Care Act.  Community health centers serve nearly 19 million patients across the country, about 40 percent of whom currently have no health insurance. Community health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,900 service delivery sites to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income.  

The Capital Development program grants, administered by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, will support major construction and renovation at 143 community health centers nationwide.  This builds on the more than $2 billion investment in community health centers in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.