Congresswoman Kathy Castor joined with leaders from Tampa Family Health Centers and the East Tampa community today to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new community health clinic that will create new jobs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act was signed into law one year ago and has proved to be a lifeline for the hard-hit Tampa Bay area.

Tampa Family Health Centers received $1.3 million in Recovery Act funds for the East Tampa clinic.

“Tampa Family Health Centers is an outstanding example of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act helps our neighbors, retains jobs and creates new jobs,” Castor said. “The East Tampa community will have better access to quality, affordable health care. At the same time, we are spurring economic development and creating jobs in a neighborhood that needs a boost.”

The new health center is on 22nd Street in East Tampa and will replace the Lee Davis and Peter Davis health centers.

Community health centers 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 professionals.

Tampa Family Health Centers has received three installments of funds from the Recovery Act:

-- $605,000 to hire and retain medical professionals to meet the increased patient demand for services
-- $1.3 million for construction of the new health center on 22^nd Street
-- $2.9 million for construction of a new health center on N. Dale Mabry Highway.

 “With approximately $5 million in Recovery funds, Tampa Family Health Centers is expanding and hiring new medical professionals. Construction workers, subcontractors and architects are landing jobs building the new clinic,” Castor said. “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is putting people to work in Tampa.”

A few weeks ago, Castor had the opportunity to meet with medical professional who work at the health clinic as a result of the Recovery Act. The groundbreaking today, Castor said, signals more good employment opportunities to come.

In 2009, Tampa Family Health Centers provided services for more than 39,000 Hillsborough County residents, representing more than 100,000 patient visits.