Thursday, March 28, 2024

Casey tours new facility

STATE COLLEGE — Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey made a stop in Centre County earlier this week to check out the progress being made on Centre Volunteers in Medicine’s new state-of-the-art facility, which is currently under construction along Sandy Drive in Ferguson Township.

CVIM’s directors toured the facility with Casey, who then talked about the project.

“The work that gets done here every day is God’s work,” Casey said. “The people that are served are people who have no access to health care or might have limited access. … We’re into nearly 20 years and that will continue, but at a higher level and a higher quality.”

CVIM outgrew its current 6,700-square-foot facility on Green Tech Drive in Patton Township. In 2021, with state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds and lead gifts from the Hamer Foundation and community members, CVIM purchased the 2026 Sandy Drive building for $2.35 million. Casey helped secure funding for the project.

“I wanted to do everything I could from the Senate side of the appropriations process, so when we were making a request for the fiscal year 2022 … we were able to secure $1.25 million for this project. I know that doesn’t cover everything, but it’s first and foremost an investment in quality care in Centre County and an investment in the families of this community,” Casey said.

While the majority of the building is still very much under construction, Casey got to see all of the building, which will include more than 11,000 square feet of exam and office space in an energy efficient and technologically up-to-date building.

CVIM goes above and beyond to serve those who have limited access to health and dental care. According to Casey, the new facility will have an impact on families in the area.

“The people of this county deserve this kind of investment. We took a look at this project. It goes through one hell of a vetting process before these dollars are approved and the dollars were awarded. That’s the right thing to do,” Casey said.

The chair of CVIM’s board of directors, Heddy Kervandjian, thanked Casey for his efforts in securing funding for the new facility.

“We know that you worked hard to get us the federal aid that we needed to make the dream of owning our own building a reality. We’d like to publicly thank you for the $1.25 million of federal aid you were able to secure for the uninsured and underinsured men, women and children of Centre County,” Kervandjian said.

Without the help of Casey and Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, Kervandjian said, the building “would not have been possible.”

“Our annual programs rely entirely on financial support from the community and there’s a great deal of need for more services. So, the building will be completed in a few months and we will celebrate the opening of this facility, and the work of funding the programs will continue,” Kervandjian said.

The crown jewel of the new facility will be its dental facility, which will feature a full-time dentist. Dr. Barry Stein talked about the importance of having dental care on site.

“We will be able to offer routine and emergency dental care to our underserved population,” Stein said.

Stein, who volunteers at CVIM, said that everything surrounding the facility — from its construction to those who volunteer time working there — is truly a labor of love.

“For me, volunteering at CVIM is very rewarding. The administration, support staff and volunteers are some of the most caring, dedicated people I’ve ever worked with,” Stein said. “We volunteer because we want to, not because we have to. That makes for a great workplace environment.”

Casey said he recognizes just how important CVIM is to the community.

“Even with health programs in place, there are people who fall through the gaps or don’t have access,” Casey said. “Having a place like this where someone can go … having that access is more than half the battle for a lot of people.”

The facility is expected to be completed by late spring.