MassDevelopment Grants Bolster Community Health Centers

BOSTON — MassDevelopment has awarded grants totaling $519,457 to 11 community health centers across Massachusetts to fund capital-improvement projects including construction, renovation, equipment, furniture, and technology-related upgrades. The grants were awarded through MassDevelopment’s Community Health Center Grant Program, which offers grants of up to $50,000 each.

“Community health centers play an important role in cities and towns across Massachusetts, providing critical care for families and good jobs for individuals,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s board of directors. “These centers are vital to the state’s healthcare system, and we are pleased these grants will support capital-improvement projects at centers and help them continue caring for the communities they serve.”

One of the 11 grants was awarded to a Western Mass. recipient: $50,000 to Holyoke Health Center (HHC), which will use the grant to advance the renovation of part of its medical building at 230 Maple St. in Holyoke. The renovation will provide a new clinic for HHC Behavioral Health Support Services, including a patient waiting area, seven private offices for clinicians to meet with patients, and six cubicles for support staff and community health workers.

“Community health centers advance health equity and represent a key segment of the Commonwealth’s healthcare industry, through both the care they provide and the jobs they create,” MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera said. “This funding from our Community Health Center Grant Program will help 11 nonprofit organizations improve facilities and services for communities in Boston and in several gateway cities.”