Larson: Federal Funding to Community Health Centers Creates $40 Million in Economic Activity for Hartford Region
For Immediate Release: February 23, 2010
Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888
Larson: Federal Funding to Community Health Centers Creates $40 Million in Economic Activity for Hartford Region
1.85 billion invested nationwide in health centers will create $3.2 billion in new economic activity, including $61 million in Connecticut.
Hartford, CT- A recent study found that Recovery Act funding to community health centers in the Greater Hartford area will generate approximately $40 million dollars in economic activity for the region. In all, the $1.85 billion that have been invested in health centers nationwide through the Recovery Act will create $3.2 billion in new economic activity, including $61 million in Connecticut.
U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the report's findings of the benefits of the more than $24 million in direct funding the Recovery Act has provided to community health centers in the area. The health centers that have received funding include the Community Health Services of Hartford, Charter Oak Health Center of Hartford, Community Health Center of Middletown, East Hartford Community Health Care, and the Community Health & Wellness Center of Greater Torrington.
"Community health centers are a great investment. They provide vital health services for the community and for every $1 million invested we receive a $1.67 million return in economic activity. The targeted funding went to Community Health Centers in areas facing a high number of unemployed and are serving those who are uninsured or underinsured.
"In Torrington, the Community Health and Wellness Center of Greater Torrington was able to triple the number of patients it can serve with the funding it received. A few months ago, I was proud to celebrate with Alfreda Turner and the Charter Oak Health Center after President Obama announced over $16 million dollars in funding for Hartford-based Community Health Centers. Hartford has been hit hard economically in this downturn and this funding will translate into increased access to health care services and new employment opportunities for our community.
"By expanding services within the centers and hiring additional care providers and support staff the community health centers in Hartford, Torrington will help where we need it the most -providing essential health services and creating jobs."
Three of the health centers receiving funding in Congressman Larson's district are located in towns with unemployment rates above 10% (East Hartford-10.6%, Hartford-15.1%, Torrington-10.9%).
The report (to read the report-https://bit.ly/bzLBfg ) investigating the Early Effects of Recovery Act Funding on Health Centers and Medically Underserved Populations and Communities was released last week by the United Health Foundation and the Geiger Gibson / RCHN Community Health Foundation at George Washington University.
The report found the following:
- The $1.85 billion invested to date in health centers under the Recovery Act translates into $3.2 billion in new economic activity in these communities.
- Recovery Act funding will help health centers in Connecticut serve over 37,000 additional patients.
- Community Health Centers generate $61 million in economic activity for the State of Connecticut.
- The Recovery Act has achieved its goal of directing resources into those communities that tend to bear the heaviest burden of an economic downturn, and have low community incomes, a disproportionate percentage of low wage workers, inadequate primary care access, and elevated health risks.
- Community health centers receiving ARRA funding tend to be located in areas with higher rates of unemployment and recent job losses.
- The average unemployment rate among counties with health center ARRA grantees was 9.6 percent compared to an average rate of 9.0 percent in all other counties