Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced today that Tampa Bay area community health centers are receiving approximately $2.7 million through President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This money will preserve and create jobs in the health care industry and will enable Tampa area community health centers to see thousands more patients.

For example, Tampa Family Health Centers will receive $605,000. Other community health centers will receive money from the Recovery Act as well, including $442,516 to Community Health Centers of Pinellas; $1.2 million to Manatee County Rural Health Services; and $541,000 to Suncoast Community Health Centers in Ruskin.

“Across the country, community health centers serve as a lifeline for millions of families,” Castor said. “They are also a vital part of our workforce. This funding is at the intersection of better, more affordable health care and putting people back to work.”

Tampa Family Health Centers will tap the $500 million in the Recovery Act for community health centers. The $605,000 directed toward Tampa Family Health Centers will enable the centers to hire two family practice doctors, who will care for both adults and children. The group also plans to hire a nurse, three medical assistants and three patient support personnel.

“This funding will allow Tampa Family Health Centers create these vital healthcare jobs that are so important to the Tampa Bay area,” Castor said.

Charles Bottoms, president and chief executive of Tampa Family Health Centers, joined Castor in making the announcement. Tampa Family Health Centers serves 25,000 patients annually, representing about 100,000 patient visits. The additional funding will allow the health centers to see 3,000 more patients, representing 12,000 patient visits.

“It will cut down waiting times some and more importantly, it will get people in the door,” Bottoms said. “The door is open wider.”

Bottoms said the health centers will try to hire staff from the local Tampa Bay area community.

One in 19 Americans relies on a community health center for care and are a key source of local employment and economic growth in many economically challenged communities. These centers support more than 105,000 jobs nationwide, including physicians, nurses, dentists and other health care professionals.