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Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced $2,027,697 in federal funding from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act for community health centers in Lawrence, Lowell, and Fitchburg. The funding will be used by the facilities to expand COVID-19 testing.
“Our health care workers in Lawrence, Lowell, and Fitchburg are heroes. They have been working around the clock for months to test and treat as many people as possible, and we’re so grateful for their service to our community. I’m proud to announce this funding, which will help these outstanding facilities ramp up their efforts even more. As Congress continues negotiations on additional coronavirus relief funding, I’ll keep working to bring home valuable federal investments in our community health centers,” said Congresswoman Trahan.
Trahan announced grants, which will be disbursed by the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the amount of:
- $942,379 for the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center in Lawrence, MA;
- $615,829 for the Lowell Community Health Center in Lowell, MA;
- And $469,489 for Community Health Connections, Inc., in Fitchburg, MA.
“Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is grateful for the continued support that this funding will provide towards the care for our patients and the communities we serve. The additional support will allow us to expand our outreach and provide valuable testing resources and education in the Great Lawrence area, as well as support future investments in PPE for our frontline staff and clinicians,” said Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Inc. President and CEO John Silva.
“We are grateful for the Congresswoman’s unwavering support and advocacy for the community health centers within the 3rd district, and across our nation. This funding is allowing our health center to continually adapt our services to combat this virus, including delivering nearly 95 percent of our services via telehealth, launching an outdoor COVID testing site, and participating in the Commonwealth’s ‘contact tracing’ program. We may be operating differently, but we are here and we are able to serve our community because of the Congresswoman’s leadership,” said Lowell Community Health Center CEO Susan West Levine.
“The continued support Community Health Connections has received from the federal government with the cooperation of our President and Congress has been instrumental in ensuring our continued ability to provide much needed services. These funds help to procure necessary personal protective equipment and testing kits to help evaluate and treat our patients. This would not be possible without this essential and much appreciated financial assistance. It is truly inspiring that the hard work that community health centers provide every day is recognized,” said Community Health Connections, Inc. President and CEO John DeMalia.
The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act provided $484 billion in immediate relief for hospitals and small businesses, as well as to significantly expand Americans’ access to testing. These grants come from the $75 billion in assistance from the interim spending package specifically allocated for hospitals and community health centers.
Despite opposition from the Senate and White House to include additional funding for hospitals and increased testing in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, Trahan actively worked with House Leadership and negotiators to successfully include $100 billion in total for both.
