Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Headed to Oregon
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, August 19th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ELGIN – (Release from the U.S. Senate) The U.S. Senate announced a total of $346,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headed to three Oregon communities to upgrade facilities so they can better serve families and increase access to essential medical services.
The projects include:
Clatsop Community Action, Clatsop County — $237,900
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase two new food distribution trucks, a new refrigerator and walk-in freezer, and remodel the existing dry storage area. Clatsop Community Action’s food distribution facility is located in Warrenton, a small community in Clatsop County, Oregon and they are organized to operate throughout the county. The existing facility was built in 2010 and is in good condition, however, increased demand for services resulting from the impacts of the pandemic have made it necessary to increase both dry and cold food storage capacity. The project will ensure that this rural area will have the storage equipment required to enhance its food distribution capabilities to benefit county residents for years to come.
South Lane Mental Health, Lane County — $58,200
This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase a covered gazebo, picnic tables and chairs to facilitate outdoor COVID safe therapy sessions, HEPA air purifiers for offices to further protect clients and clinicians and a new key fob system to increase security and the ability to screen visitors for COVID. South Lane Mental Health has several care facilities in the community of Cottage Grove. These facilities do not currently have an air filtration system or outdoor meeting areas. These improvements are needed to reduce the impact and spread of COVID by allowing for safer meeting spaces, healthier air quality in offices and the ability to more safely screen for symptoms upon entry into the facilities. Overall, this project will ensure that this rural area will have the needed funds to purchase equipment and enhance its capabilities to respond to COVID for the residents of Cottage Grove and the surrounding area for years to come.
Elgin Health District, Union County — $49,900
This Rural Development investment will be used to help purchase equipment to start a tele pharmacy and enhance capabilities to respond to COVID-19. The residents of Elgin have been without a pharmacy for 15 years and must drive into La Grande, 20 miles away to get their prescriptions. The Elgin Health District built the clinic in 2008 and currently offers medical, dental and limited behavioral health services in rural Elgin, but it has no pharmacy. The health care clinic will purchase and install tele pharmacy equipment at the clinic location and at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. This project will ensure that this rural area will have the needed funds to purchase tele pharmacy equipment and enhance its capabilities to provide enhanced medical services to the residents of Elgin and the surrounding area for years to come.
