Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. Announces Approval of Healthcare Workforce Training Center for Cochise County

Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc Announces Approval of Healthcare Workforce Training Center for Cochise County

State-of-the-Art facility to prepare locally employed healthcare workers to address and solve rural healthcare challenges

Senator Mark Kelly & Representative Ann Kirkpatrick champion Congressionally Directed Spending for Renovation of Historic Building in Bisbee

BISBEE, AZ – April 20, 2022:  Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (CCHCI) today announced the awarding of $627,966 to CCHCI for construction of a new, state-of-the-art health worker training center in Bisbee, AZ.  The existing building is a historic (1905) brick facility located in Bisbee’s commercial district and CCHCI purchased this deteriorating building in 2017, renovating 1200 square feet into a now thriving community pharmacy. The remaining 2300 square feet are currently unusable, but with the new funds will soon be transformed into a modern, multi-use, training and meeting space.  Architectural and engineering plans – including the paving of a small adjacent parking lot- are ‘shelf ready’; technology and furniture plans are also already completed; and construction will begin later this spring.  Key to the anticipated use of the training facility is a place to prepare locally employed healthcare workers to address and solve rural healthcare challenges to the benefit of all communities and populations of Cochise County.

In requesting the Congressionally directed spending for Cochise County, CCHCI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Melk, MD, FAAP said, “This project is an excellent utilization of taxpayer funds because it invests long term in workforce training for locally employed healthcare workers for the region.” Dr. Melk added, “The training facility will benefit all communities and populations of rural and medically underserved Cochise County and will bring restoration, vitality, and commerce to a developing section of Bisbee, Arizona. We’re delighted that the funds were approved and eager to break ground!”

“Our community health centers deliver critical health services to Arizonans across the state…” said Senator Mark Kelly, “This funding we secured will enable Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc to continue education programs that develop the healthcare workforce of the future, creating jobs and ensuring folks in Cochise County can keep receiving top-notch, accessible health care.”

The funds were secured as part of the 2022 Congressional Budget Agreement and are immediately available to CCHCI.

“Growing up in rural Arizona, where access to nearby medical care facilities was limited, I understand the importance of investing in community health center equipment and training personnel,” said Rep. Kirkpatrick. “This community project funding win is very personal to me, and I am incredibly proud we were able to deliver funds to advance this Chiricahua project.”

The appreciation and excitement went well beyond Arizona’s elected officials and Alicia M. Thompson, DrPH, MSW, Health Director for Cochise Health & Social Services added,

“I am so excited that we will soon have a venue to hold large meetings and trainings in Bisbee! The new facility will be a great asset to our healthcare community.”

About Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.

 Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. (CCHCI) is a mission driven Federally Qualified Health Center and a tax exempt not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 1996 as a small, rural health clinic operating in a community center, CCHCI has since grown to become the largest primary care organization in southeastern Arizona, serving more than 30,000 patients annually.  CCHCI operates fourteen fixed-site medical clinics, and seven mobile-medical and mobile-dental units, that serve patients throughout the more than 6200 square mile borderlands of Cochise County.

Media Contact:

Jane Montgomery – PR Specialist

jmontgomery@cchci.org

520.266.3279

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