The Ozarks Medical Center is receiving at $1,000,00 grant to assist in constructing at 10,000 square foot clinic in Mountain View, Missouri. Currently, they provide COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at its primary location in West Plains. This is at least a 30-minute drive for the rural community, with limited to no public transportation, the rural community throughout the service area is unable to receive both testing and vaccinations. This proposed project is critical in assuring the rural community has access to this much needed service.
The grant comes from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. In total, over $1.2 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants in Missouri to assist residents in underserved communities in rural Missouri. Missouri State Director Kyle Wilkens says “access to healthy food and health care are critical to the health and well being of our citizens. USDA Rural Development is here to help build up rural communities.”
Other centers receiving the grant are Bootheel Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Gideon, MO and Carter County Health Center in Van Buren, MO.
When congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021 to deliver immediate economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic, the USDA responded quickly by making this funding available to ensure the long-term availability of rural health care services. In August 2021, USDA made the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants available through the American Rescue Plan Act to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to health care services and nutrition assistance. The assistance is helping provide immediate relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and
local communities.
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