Press Release: Gov. Evers Announces $20 Million in Healthcare Infrastructure Grants to Support Healthcare Access in Park Falls

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 03/09/2022 11:51 AM CST
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2022 
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Announces $20 Million in Healthcare Infrastructure Grants to Support Healthcare Access in Park Falls
 
PARK FALLS — Gov. Tony Evers today announced $20 million from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will support facility upgrades and modernization at the Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls, which is a critical access hospital of Marshfield Clinic Health System, to expand access to quality healthcare for rural communities that have been historically underserved. 

“This healthcare facility bridges an important gap in healthcare access in the Park Falls community, and they would not be able to continue to provide care without some critically needed upgrades and modernization,” said Gov. Evers. “This investment will allow them to keep providing high-quality care in the community, and I am glad to support this project today and to continue supporting the health and well-being of folks in the Park Falls area.”

The Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls Critical Access Hospital was built in 1966, and this $20 million investment will support substantial and transformational upgrades to modernize the facility and enhance the quality of care for patients. This facility also bridges an important gap in healthcare coverage in rural Wisconsin as the next closest medical facility is more than an hour away, and these funds will allow the facility to stay open to continue to serve the community and bridge this gap, while keeping jobs in the area and helping to attract and retain new medical professionals. 

Part of a more than $285 million investment allocated by the governor for community capital projects statewide, the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program was first announced in August 2021, alongside the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program awarded last week. Park Falls also received more than $5.6 million through the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program for the construction of a new YMCA facility in the community. 

The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with grants ranging in size from $158,000 to a maximum of $20 million. Applications opened on Oct. 26, 2021, and closed on Nov. 30, 2021. Additional information can be found on the program website. Recipients of the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will be announced on a rolling basis throughout this week. A full list of grant awardees will be released later today. 

Wisconsinites can visit BadgerBounceback.wi.gov to view pandemic-related assistance information for families, farmers, businesses, organizations, and communities, as well as the latest data and success stories about how COVID-relief investments are making a difference across the state. For updates on other recovery-related grant opportunities, sign up for the Badger Bounceback update list.
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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