Click here to view photos from the event.

New Jersey - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) today visited the Monmouth Family Health Center in Long Branch to announce a nearly $3.5 million grant to expand and improve its facilities, which will create new jobs and provide access to vital dental health care services for more local families. The grant was part of an overall investment of $18 million to expand and improve services at seven New Jersey health centers and was made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

"There is no doubt that the Affordable Care Act is working for New Jersey families and communities, and I'm proud to have fought for its passage and for increased investment in our New Jersey health centers," said Menendez. "Not only will Monmouth Health Center soon be expanded and equipped to care for more patients, we will create good construction and health care jobs in the process."

"In order to meet New Jersey's health care needs and the goals of the Affordable Care Act, it is critical that our community health centers have sufficient resources to deliver lifesaving services and increase access to preventative health care options," said Congressman Pallone. "The more than $3.4 million that the Monmouth Family Health Center will receive under this grant will help expand services and provide essential funding that will keep families throughout Monmouth County healthy."

Monmouth Family Health Center will use its $3,470,095 grant for a 5500-6000 sq. foot addition which will house 8-10 dental rooms.

"We are delighted that this funding will allow us to relocate, consolidate, expandand renovate our dental center," said Marta C. Silverberg, Executive Director of the Monmouth Family Health Center. "We will berenovating a state of the art facility equipped with the latest technology including digital x-rays and electronic health records.Additionally, we will expand our dental capacity by 25%. Our patients will benefit enormously both in efficiency, technologyand quality of dental servicesoffered atLong Branch."

The total of $18,086,274 in awards made to seven New Jersey community health centers are part of a series of capital investments made available through the Affordable Care Act to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers. Together, New Jersey grantees estimate that this investment will help them serve nearly 17,500 new patients.

New Jersey Grants:

Capital Development - Building Capacity Program

Grantee Organization

City

State

Award

Community Health Care, Inc.

Bridgeton

New Jersey

$4,995,763

Monmouth Family Health Center

Long Branch

New Jersey

$3,470,095

Project H.O.P.E., Incorporated

Camden

New Jersey

$4,725,163

Southern Jersey Family

Hammonton

New Jersey

$3,118,999

Capital Development - Immediate Facility Improvement Program

Grantee Organization

City

State

Award

Community Health Care, Inc.

Bridgeton

New Jersey

$499,894

Henry J. Austin Health Center

Trenton

New Jersey

$295,606

Newark City Health and Human Services

Newark

New Jersey

$498,800

Zufall Health Center, Inc.

Dover

New Jersey

$481,954

New Jersey is home to 20 Federally-Qualified Health Centers, operating more than 120 sites, with more than a million patient visits a year and providing a range of vital primary care services including obstetrics, pediatrics, dental and pharmacy services.

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