Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced awards of $727 million to 143 Community Health Centers across the country to address pressing construction and renovation needs and expand access to quality health care. The funds are the first in a series of awards that will be made available to health centers under the Affordable Care Act.

The Capital Development (CD) program grants, administered by  the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of Health and Human Services, will support major construction and renovation at 143 community health centers nationwide.  "Many of these community health centers need more modern space to meet the increasing patient demand for services. These funds will help community health centers build new facilities and modernize their current sites in their continuing effort to provide the best care possible to more and more people in need," said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, PhD, R.N. 

Two community health centers in Idaho are grant recipients with plans for expansion: Benewah Medical Center, Plummer, will receive $11,819,382; Valley Family Health Care, Payette, will receive $3,170,119.

To view a list of the awards by state, visit here.