Sonoma Valley Community Health Center Gets $5 Million Infusion

Congressman Mike Thompson today announced a $5 million grant for Sonoma Valley Community Health Center. The funds, part of a series of capital investments made available through the , will be allow the health center to expand its facilities, improve existing serves and serve more patients.

“Community health centers are a critical component to the accessibility of quality and affordable health care,” said Thompson.

“SVCHC is honored to be selected for this wonderful opportunity! Thanks to the diligent efforts of Congressman Thompson and his staff, SVCHC will be able to enhance our current services as well as offer expanded services including dental," said Cheryl Johnson, Interim Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center.  

The grants announced today will help expand access to health care to an additional 860,000 patients nationwide.

To date, the health care law has supported 190 construction and renovation projects at health centers and the creation of 67 new health center sites nationwide. Over the next two years the law will support more than 485 new health center construction and renovation projects and the creation of 245 new community health center sites.

Overall, since the beginning of 2009, employment at community health centers has increased by 15 percent.  And, primarily due to the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, community health centers are serving nearly 3 million additional patients today and will serve an additional 1.3 million additional new patients in the next two years.

These health centers improve the health of the nation’s underserved communities by ensuring access to primary health care services. Currently, more than 8,500 service delivery sites around the country deliver care to more than 20 million patients regardless of their ability to pay.

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 1^st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.