In the late 1950s a group of visionary businessmen from the Cassopolis community recognized the need for a health center in Cassopolis.

They were determined to build a medical clinic and recruit physicians to town so that people who live and work in the community would have access to high-quality, affordable health care. Their vision became reality. Cassopolis Family Clinic (CFC) has continuously served the community since 1964.

The faces have changed over the years, as has the business model and ownership of the clinic. Today, CFC is a federally-funded Community Health Center (also known as a federally Qualified Health Center), locally-controlled, non-profit entity directed by a patient majority board, which insures it is accountable and responsive to the community it serves.

I like to think that Tom McCauslin, George Gohn, Frank Woods, Sam Hansen and Mack Cropsey, to name a few of the Founding Fathers,  would be very proud of the fact that once again, the community is gearing up to build a new medical facility.

We’re planning a new 24,000 square foot medical facility that will replace the clinic originally built in 1960.

We will expand medical capacity in terms of the number of patients served and services provided. This will require hiring additional medical and support staff.  We would like to thank the community at large for its support of our vision for the future.

The planning process, guided by CFC’s Board of Directors, demonstrated overwhelming need for a new facility.

We engaged the Cass County Human Services Coordinating Council in our community needs assessment and developed a sound business plan.  The USDA and Kresge Foundation assisted with development funding.

It took many hours of hard work, and months of waiting, but CFC was successful in obtaining a federal grant, bringing $4.4 million dollars to this project.

Encouraged by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and working with the Cass County Board of Commissioners and the Cass County Economic Development Committee, we’re working to secure an alternative building site to develop this facility.

By fostering good business relationships, we’ve planned expansions of service with Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network and Southwest Michigan Community Dental Clinic for onsite services.

And by working with law enforcement, Cass County’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and first responders, we’re designing a site and facility plan that will safely serve the community for future generations.

In designing this new facility, we’ll focus on the needs of our patients and their families.

We want to be your first choice when it comes to choosing a medical home. We will, to the extent possible, engage local businesses and suppliers to assist in designing, building and equipping our new facility, giving an economic boost to our local economy, and providing jobs.

We anticipate breaking ground in the spring of 2013, and occupying the new facility by spring of 2014. As we celebrate National Health Center Week, Aug. 5-11, we want to thank the community for allowing us to serve you.

Thank you for your encouragement and support, as we strive to keep our founders’ vision of accessible, high quality, affordable health care alive.

Mary Geegan Middleton

Executive Director