Ohio community health centers in line for $6.4 million in stimulus funds

Five community health centers in Ohio are among 150 nationally that will share $155 million in federal economic recovery funds, President Obama announced this week (Source: “Five Ohio community health centers will get $6.4 million in federal recovery funds,” Cleveland Plain-Dealer, March 4, 2009).

The five Ohio centers have been allocated $6.4 million, which is expected to create 190 jobs and give the centers the ability to serve an additional 26,000 people, according to Obama Administration estimates.

Lorain County Health & Dentistry, Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton, Rocking Horse Center in Springfield and Lower Light Christian Health Center in Columbus each will receive $1.3 million over two years. Fairfield County Combined General Health District in Lancaster is set to get $1.2 million.

According to the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, there are 36 community health centers in Ohio that served more than 400,000 patients last year, up from 250,000 in 2002.

"Health centers provide critical assistance to Ohioans that may not otherwise receive health care," wrote Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lobbied for the funds, in an e-mail to the Plain-Dealer.