Monterey County receives 7.3 million from American Rescue Plan

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) On Monday, local officials announced that Monterey County will be receiving a $7.3 million dollar grant for community health centers and clinics.

Community health centers like the Seaside Family Health Center typically provides services to the underserved and low-income which accounts for about 45,000 to 60,000 patients in Monterey County.

The Bureau Chief of Clinic Services for the Monterey County Health Department, Prashant Shinde, says these centers never refuse or deny services to anyone regardless if they can pay or not. For these centers, this funding is crucial in helping to continue to provide COVID-19 related services for the community.

"This funding or grant will make sure that this center can fill some of the gaps that are needed and hiring more individuals in our workforce, making sure that we approve the positive outcomes of the center, and during this time of COVID, making sure we provide more testing, more preventative care and vaccinations," says Seaside Mayor, Ian Oglesby.

More importantly, with all of California opening up vaccines to those 16 years and older on April 15th, the grant will aid in providing more vaccine to Monterey County.

"We have seen an increase in demand for COVID-19 vaccinations. These grants will help us increase that capacity," says Shinde.

 The discussion of healthcare has centered around COVID-19, primary healthcare has been placed on the backburner but Shinde says this grant will provide some needed funding for those areas like preventative screenings, cancer screenings, and more.

"Most of the patients have been postponing their healthcare, so there is a pent up demand for the primary care services," says Shinde.

The grant will provide one-time funding for the next two years.