BEAVER COUNTY Grant to allow Primary Health to open health-care centers

The new clinic should be operational by July, one official said.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Primary Health Network Inc. has received a $231,575 federal grant to open health-care facilities in Beaver County.
The grant is one of 25 awarded across the country by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week to help expand access to health care for medically underserved Americans.
The grants totaled more than $11 million.
The health centers receiving the funds serve areas that have many residents without health insurance and need more primary-care services.
Jack Laeng, executive director for Primary Health, said the money will help his agency open a medical facility in Beaver Falls.
Plans for Butler County: Primary Health already operates centers in Mercer, Lawrence, Crawford and Clarion counties and has a dental office in Beaver Falls. There are also plans to open facilities in Butler County this year.
The Beaver Falls dental office will move into a 6,400-square-foot, two-story building being built on Main Street that will also house medical offices, Laeng said.
A developer is erecting the building and Primary Health will lease it, he said, noting the total project cost is $800,000.
The federal assistance is operating money and is a renewable grant, meaning that Primary Health can apply for it again next year to keep its clinic operating, Laeng said.
Also planned: In addition to the dental office, the clinic will house a family physician practice, X-ray facilities, a laboratory, a small pharmacy and an education room.
It should be open in July, Laeng said.
Primary Health was formed 17 years ago to provide quality, affordable health-care services to anyone who needs it, especially low-income people.