WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, today announced $7.25 million in federal grant funding to help eight Rhode Island health centers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  The health centers may deploy the funds to expand coronavirus testing, prevent and treat COVID-19, and increase staffing and treatment capacity to address the public health emergency.

“Our community health centers are doing critical work under tremendous financial strain.  This is like a booster shot to help them continue to serve patients and communities and offset some of their coronavirus-related expenses,” said Senator Reed.

“Neighborhood health centers are the first place many Rhode Islanders call when they’re not feeling well,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “This federal funding provides additional support for health centers as they prepare to see more COVID-19 patients.  We’re proud of them.”

“Amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, our frontline workers and healthcare providers need all the support they can get to keep our communities safe and stop the spread of the virus,” said Congressman Langevin.  “Rhode Island is at a critical point.  The lives and livelihoods of Rhode Islanders are at stake, and these funds will help better equip our community health centers to conduct testing and handle the patient surge we expect in the coming weeks.”

“Community health centers are doing incredibly important work on the frontlines of this fight,” Congressman Cicilline said.  “I’m proud to announce these funds for facilities throughout Rhode Island so that they have the resources necessary to keep their workers and patients safe.  As Congress works to craft a fourth stimulus to combat this pandemic, I will continue to use my position in House Leadership to advocate for even more funding for these crucial facilities.”

The Rhode Island health centers receiving funding are:

  • Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Pawtucket – $878,510
  • Comprehensive Community Action, Cranston – $796,160
  • East Bay Community Action Program, Newport – $688,715
  • Northwest Community Health Care, Pascoag – $781,850
  • The Providence Community Health Centers, Providence – $1,464,095
  • Thundermist Health Center, Woonsocket – $1,403,510
  • Tri-County Community Action Agency, Johnston – $624,680
  • Wood River Health Services, Hope Valley – $615,185

The health center grants were authorized by the $2.2-trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which Congress approved in March.  The funding announced today is in addition to the more than $6 million Rhode Island has already received from the federal government to address the pandemic, including $539,000 awarded to these same health centers late last month.