U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WELCOMES $8.9 MILLION GRANT FOR MARANA HEALTH CENTER
Congresswoman was strong advocate for federal funds that will be used to build new three-story main clinic
TUCSON, AZ – October 19, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is welcoming an $8.9 million federal grant to help pay for construction of a new main clinic for the Marana Health Center.
“The Marana Health Center has done a stellar job of delivering medical care to an underserved area of Marana and Northwest Pima County for more than a half-century,” said Giffords, who strongly urged the Department of Health and Human Services to approve the grant. “This is a wise use of federal funding and I was proud to help secure it for this exceptionally worthy institution.”
Marana Health Center, a division of MHC Healthcare, will use the funds to replace its main clinic at 13644 N. Sandario Road in Marana. The present clinic is an early-1960s adobe structure with an addition built in 2001. With 17,000 square feet of space, the clinic is strained to the limit.
The grant will allow the center to complete a 74,656-square foot expandable, tri-level facility being built on a 26-acre site west of the Marana Municipal Complex. The first part of the three-phase project will enable service to more than 50,000 patients making 150,000 visits each year.
“These grant funds will make a great financial impact and will enable us to complete the new Marana Health Center as planned,” said Marana Health Center CEO Clarence Vatne. “This economy has been challenging for our community and we are grateful to receive this support. The new health center project is creating many new jobs now during the construction phase and will provide an increased number of permanent positions in the future when the new building is complete and begins serving patients in Marana.”
After the center was denied a grant in an initial round of funding, Giffords wrote to Health and Human Service officials urging that they reconsider when future funding became available.
“Marana Health Center has been providing health care services for over 50 years and has seen a significant growth in the number of patients in recent years,” Giffords wrote in her Aug. 18 letter. “In order to meet this burgeoning need, MHC Healthcare is constructing a new facility for the Marana Health Center to provide healthcare and other services in northwest Pima County.”
Money for the grant comes from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March. The legislation contains a total of $11 billion for health centers over five years.
Studies have shown that health centers result in substantial cost savings to the health care system by reducing emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and other avoidable, costly care.
Marana Health Center opened in 1957, providing health care to migrant farm workers. Today it is a multi-service health care clinic and community services center serving rural and metro Northwest Pima County. In addition to the main clinic in Marana, there are 17 other facilities offering medical, dental and behavioral health as well as specialized health care to women and teens.
CONTACT
C.J. Karamargin
Communications Director
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
(520) 881-3588 or (520) 909-8482
