Yuma News Now

Somerton, Arizona - Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva is pleased to announce that Sunset Community Health Center in Somerton will receive $940,655 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (ARRA) for expansion and upgrade for existing facilities.

The Center will share resources from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with other facilities across the country.  The grantswill support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites, investments in health information technology, and critically needed health care services.

“Health centers are an integral source of local employment and economic growth in many underserved and low-income communities,” said Grijalva. “This is one more step to insure that high-quality health care for all Americans, regardless of income, is an affordable goal.”

In 2008, health centers across the nation employed 113,000 individuals.

Through ARRA, $338 Million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers were announced on March 27. With an additional $851 Million, health centers will provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people. Strategies to expand services include adding new providers, extending hours of operations or expanding services.

In Arizona, 16 community health centers will share $16.1 million in grant funding.

To find a health center near you or to learn more about health centers, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/.