Local community health centers receive $1.7M in federal funds

CLEVELAND - Community health centers across northeast Ohio have been given federal dollars to expand access.

Akron Community Health Resources, Inc. is one of 219 centers to receive a federal grant. The agency was awarded $375,960 to expand quality health care and create jobs.

The grants are intended to create health center jobs and help more Ohioans access more affordable preventive care, rather than rely on costly emergency room visits that are often billed to taxpayers.

"Community health centers play a vital role in Ohio's health care system, reducing emergency room use and providing critical services to patients who otherwise would have no access to care," said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in a news release.

"These funds will allow Akron Community Health Resources to expand their reach to more Ohioans across Summit County and expand the range of services they provide," Brown added, who lobbied for the money.

Elsewhere in northeast Ohio, Lorain County Health & Dentistry was awarded $495,000 and two Cleveland community health centers received a piece of the pie.

Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services and the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland were awarded $441,667 and $600,833, respectively.

Nationwide, the grants are expected to create more than 5,600 jobs and expand health care access for 1.25 million additional patients.