The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Cassopolis Family Clinic $4.4 million that will allow it to build a new facility adjacent to the current facility at 109 School St.
Executive Director Mary Geegan Middleton said Wednesday that the federal funding through the Affordable Care Act is part of a $728 million funding announcement for health centers across the country to support renovation and construction projects.
Cassopolis contemplates a $5.7 million project with the new facility to be situated on the present property.
Middleton said the grant means her agency will be able to provide health care services to more working families in need throughout Cass and southeast Berrien County.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the health reform law some call Obamacare, provides funding to double the capacity of America’s health centers, which are health care homes to more than 20 million people, yet the need for services continues to outpace their growth.
Middleton said this funding will give more people access to quality, comprehensive, primary and preventive health care health centers offer, which is responsive to community need and provided regardless of insurance status or income level.
Cassopolis Family Clinic will build a new state-of-the-art medical building to replace the current facility built in 1960.
The 24,000-square-foot facility will consist of 24 exam rooms, two procedure rooms, onsite laboratory services, an in-house pharmacy and room for CFC’s business office, currently housed in Niles.
“We are so excited and grateful for the opportunity to expand our services in the community,” Middleton said. “We currently serve nearly 7,000 patients annually and expect to build capacity by nearly 60 percent, to an estimated patient population of 11,000. Additional medical staff will be recruited, and additional staff required. We expect to create at least 13 additional jobs, and consolidating the business office brings five more jobs to the community.
“The Village of Cassopolis has been very generous in allowing us to renew our property lease for 99 years,“ Middleton said. “We would like to thank the village council for its support of our grant application, as well as the entire community for the outpouring of encouragement and letters of support.
“This is a great opportunity for CFC, our patients and our community.”