MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $1 million grant to build a new home for a medical clinic that serves uninsured people in Cullman County.
The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help fund the construction of a new 5,040-square-foot building to house the Good Samaritan Health Clinic, which provides medical care to uninsured residents whose household incomes are 2.5 times the federal poverty level or less.
“The Good Samaritan Clinic provides an invaluable service to community members who might otherwise have to turn to hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency needs,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to announce this grant to support a new home for this nonprofit organization that has been serving Cullman County for 20 years.”
The clinic operates as a primary care provider that treats patients between the ages of 19 and 65 for routine illnesses and chronic conditions. The clinic offers additional services including dental extractions, hearing evaluations and mental health counseling. The new facility will be larger than the current location, which local leaders say will help meet a rising demand as Cullman County continues to grow. The new building is expected to benefit more than 3,600 patients.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
“This will be a much-needed upgrade for the Good Samaritan Clinic and a major benefit to the people of Cullman County,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in applauding the Appalachian Regional Commission for its dedication to improving the lives of residents in its Alabama region.”
Gov. Ivey notified Good Samaritan Executive Director Jolanda Hutson that the grant had been approved.
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Cullman County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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