Legislators Celebrate Earmark for Baystate Brightwood Health Center

BOSTON — State Sen. Adam Gomez joined state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, representatives of Baystate Health, and community members on July 19 for an earmark-acknowledgement event at Baystate Brightwood Health Center in Springfield, celebrating a pair of amendments secured by the two representatives during last year’s state budget cycle.

Through their efforts, Baystate Health was awarded a total of $300,000 in earmark funding, with $50,000 being allocated for the Brightwood Wellness on Wheels (WOW) bus and $250,000 for IT enhancements intended to begin to bridge the digital divide.

“I am proud to partner once again with my colleague, state Representative Gonzalez, on this vital investment for the Hampden district,” Gomez said. “Baystate’s partnership continues to be instrumental because community clinics like the Brightwood Health Center recognize the needs of the historically underserved residents from the surrounding neighborhoods and offer accessible and culturally responsive preventive care. If we continuously lead with our heart and compassion and make sure we’re awarding intentional earmarks, our region will thrive by virtue of better healthcare outcomes.”

Earmark funding will be spent for the Baystate Brightwood Health Center WOW bus, which focuses on health conditions disproportionately impacting urban and rural communities and targets residents who are economically, racially, culturally, or socially marginalized. Funding will also be used to upgrade exam-room IT equipment and to modify and upgrade community-room space to accommodate community and group telehealth medical visits and health education.