Stimulus funds to go to Sunshine Clinic

26 health clinics across Alaska are receiving more than $14 million  in capital improvement grants as part of a national package to address equipment and facility needs at community health centers across the country.

The Sunshine Community Health Center in Talkeetna is set to receive a large sum of grant money.  Nome, Cordova, Bethel and other communities are receiving funds to either build or grow their clinics.

Mat Su Health Services in Wasilla will receive over $435,000 in the package.

Sharon Montanigno, executive director of the Sunshine Health Centers, says these funds just announced already were announced earlier.   They already have received $150,000  which is helping fund specialty programs, such as the senior program that was just held, as well as continuing to help fund the free Sunshine Transit transportation system and patient education. 

Another $369,000  is coming soon in the form of capital improvements.  The clinic will be able to fix or replace a boiler, upgrade their phone system, make building renovations, be able to order needed medical equipment.

Montanigno says the stimulus funds were distributed after study of geographic area and number of patients each clinic served.  Some clinics in other areas may have received more funds than Sunshine due to location and amount of people served.

She says she will also be applying for some competitive grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.