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Costa Announces Nearly $100 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Community Health Centers

April 2, 2021

FRESNO – Congressman Jim Costa announced that several San Joaquin Valley community health centers will receive nearly $100 million dollars in American Rescue Plan funding to expand their COVID-19 vaccination and treatment operations. The resources are part of the American Rescue Plan's investments to expand access to vaccines in underserved communities.

"The American Rescue Plan continues to deliver on its promises to help us weather this pandemic," said Costa. "Community health centers have played a critical role in the response to this deadly disease. From testing to vaccine distribution, this money will enable them to continue their work to put more shots in arms and help saves lives in our most vulnerable communities."

Central Valley community health centers receiving funds include:

  • Golden Valley Health Centers, Merced - $24,879,250
  • Clinica Sierra Vista, valley wide - $23,931,875
  • Omni Valley Health, valley wide - $20,386,375
  • United Health Centers, Fresno - $18,076,625
  • Camarena Health, Madera - $7,952,250
  • Livingston Community Health – Livingston, $3,692,625

The health centers can use the funding to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatment for vulnerable populations; deliver preventive and primary health care services to people at higher risk for COVID-19; and expand health centers' operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units.

"United Health Centers has previously leveraged every available resource to maximize our efforts to combat the ravages of the coronavirus with COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccinations to well over 300,000 individuals. While we have had great success in our past efforts, it is with the generous funding of over $18M now available to UHC through the American Rescue Plan Act that we can employ all the necessary staffing and other resources to dramatically expand our reach and maximize the capabilities of our 24 health centers and mobile units to rapidly increase those being served by the hundreds of thousands in the coming months. More than 90% of our patients are individuals or families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and over 70% are from agricultural and food service industries. Our efforts will definitely focus on the President's target population of the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities across the country and help reach the President's goal of 200 million vaccines in his first 100 days." - Colleen Curtis, President and CEO of United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley

"Camarena Health is truly grateful for having been awarded funds via the American Rescue Plan. These funds will be used to not only support our current needs during this COVID pandemic but will also help to establish a more permanent infrastructure for any future needs that arise during a public health emergency. This level of funding commitment to CHCs truly validates the important work they have been doing around COVID testing and vaccinations. Especially with underserved populations and rural communities" - Paulo A. Soares, MHA, Chief Executive Officer for Camarena Health

"We want to thank Congressman Costa for his continued commitment as an advocate and health center champion-- always in our corner. This funding will allow us to expand the availability of the COVID-19 vaccinations, continue monitoring and testing and reaching the communities we care so much about" - Leslie Abasta-Cummings, Livingston Community Health

Issues:Healthcare