NILES TOWNSHIP —  On Sept. 12, officials with the Cassopolis Family Clinic Network will break ground on an approximately $8.5 million medical facility at the former site of the Eastgate Shopping Plaza, at 1951 Oak St. in Niles Township.

Marketing Coordinator Rose Middleton-Willson, of Cassopolis Family Clinic Network, said officials look forward to opening the Niles Community Health Center, serving more patients and restoring a once bustling area.

“Eastgate has been vacant for many years,” Middleton-Willson said. “We feel that it’s a great area to put in a health center. It’s very accessible to everyone, and it’s only a mile and half from the hospital.”

The Niles Community Health Center currently operates out of a rented building at 24 N. St. Joseph St. in Niles, but  Middleton-Willson, of Cassopolis Family Clinic Network, said the company has outgrown the space.

“We currently serve just over 3,200 patients at our Niles Community Health Center location,” Middleton-Willson said. “We have three providers and six exam rooms, so you can imagine that it is pretty tight at the moment.”

Because of this, Middleton-Willson said wait times for new patients can be up to three months.

Services at the Niles Community Health Center and Obstetrics & Gynecology office, at 60 N. St. Joseph Ave., will relocate to the new building once construction is completed, which officials are targeting for the fall of 2019.

The Cassopolis Family Clinic Network also owns the Niles Community Health Center Dental, located at 122 Grant St. in Niles. The dental services will not change locations.

The brand-new building will be about 31,500-square-feet, with 26 exam rooms. Middleton-Willson said they expect to be able to serve double the number of patients. Services that will be offered include behavioral health, OB and physician services. An onsite pharmacy with a drive-up window will also be accessible to patients.   

Middleton-Willson said this will allow for the opportunity to serve more patients and provide more services, including expanded behavioral health services.

“Right now, we only have one behavioral room at the [current] Niles Community Health Center,” Middleton-Willson said. “That is not nearly enough to meet the need of the behavioral health in Niles.”

The Cassopolis Family Clinic Network will also hire 20 more employees to work with current staff who will transition to the new building.  Middleton-Willson said all patients will be notified of the relocation.

The Cassopolis Family Clinic Network serves patients across Cass and southeast Berrien counties. The clinic is an independent and Federally Qualified Health Center and provides services for the uninsured that underinsured who are covered by Medicare, Michigan Medicaid and most commercial insurances. 

The Cassopolis Family Clinic Network also owns and operates two facilities in Cassopolis, The Cassopolis Family Clinic and Ranger Wellness Center.

In Niles, Middleton-Willson said she looks forward to seeing more patients have access to care.

“I am really excited that our organization has the opportunity to build a new health center in Niles and allow for more individuals to access the care they need affordable,” she said.

The community is invited to take part in the ground-breaking ceremony which will take place at 9 a.m. Sept. 12. Those interested should RSVP by contacting Middleton-Willson at the Cassopolis Family Clinic Network at (269) 445-3874.