Large grant means health center expansion
PASCO- Going to the doctor is going to get easier in the Tri-Cities.
Tri Cities Community Health CEO, Al Cordova says, "there is a need there and we're prepared to meet that need."
Federal grants delivered 2.5 million dollars for community health centers in our state. Tri-Cities Community Health got 650-thousand of that money. It will use the grant to build a new facility in Richland.
Cordova says, "we are operating at capacity. Demand for our services is out pacing our capacity."
When most people think of Richland, they think of an affluent area that doesn't have poverty. Al Cordova found out through the research to obtain the grant, that isn't the case.
He says, "what I discovered was that 25 percent of persons that live in Benton County are 200 percent below the federal poverty guidelines."
The grant that will allow the Tri-Cities Community Health to expand will help thousands of people receive medical attention who currently have to go all the way from Richland from to Pasco just to get it.
People like Jim Gardin.
He says, "I'd prefer to stay local cause I'm pretty busy. If it opens in Richland, that is fine because that is where I live."
Jim says unforeseen costs add up.
He says, "Well, it's always ya know, costly. If you drive from Pasco to Richland, you use a couple gallons of gas and it can cost you 8 dollars a trip. It makes a difference."
In the end, Al says they have one goal.
He says, "reaching out to the communities where you've got families that just simply cannot afford health care."
In Pasco, Dayna Kathan, Action News.
Tri Cities Community Health CEO, Al Cordova says, "there is a need there and we're prepared to meet that need."
Federal grants delivered 2.5 million dollars for community health centers in our state. Tri-Cities Community Health got 650-thousand of that money. It will use the grant to build a new facility in Richland.
Cordova says, "we are operating at capacity. Demand for our services is out pacing our capacity."
When most people think of Richland, they think of an affluent area that doesn't have poverty. Al Cordova found out through the research to obtain the grant, that isn't the case.
He says, "what I discovered was that 25 percent of persons that live in Benton County are 200 percent below the federal poverty guidelines."
The grant that will allow the Tri-Cities Community Health to expand will help thousands of people receive medical attention who currently have to go all the way from Richland from to Pasco just to get it.
People like Jim Gardin.
He says, "I'd prefer to stay local cause I'm pretty busy. If it opens in Richland, that is fine because that is where I live."
Jim says unforeseen costs add up.
He says, "Well, it's always ya know, costly. If you drive from Pasco to Richland, you use a couple gallons of gas and it can cost you 8 dollars a trip. It makes a difference."
In the end, Al says they have one goal.
He says, "reaching out to the communities where you've got families that just simply cannot afford health care."
In Pasco, Dayna Kathan, Action News.
