City Council took a few moments Tuesday night to make an amendment to one of its American Rescue Plan Act grants for “community facilities.”
In April, council approved Union Community Care for $500,000 in ARPA funds to go toward a dental clinic at the healthcare provider’s downtown Lancaster location, 304 N. Water St. It was one of 11 projects by 10 nonprofits that received a total of $5 million.
Since then, Union Community Care has acquired the former Groff Event Center at 234 W. Orange St. It plans to remodel the complex for use as a community health center and administrative headquarters.
To allow the funds to be redirected to that purpose, council approved an ordinance Tuesday changing “dental clinic” in the original grant legislation to “general medical care facility.”
The health center actually makes for a stronger case for ARPA funding, Solicitor Barry Handwerger told City Council at its committee meeting Dec. 4.
Union Community Care is pursuing a range of funding sources for the renovations. In November, during discussion of the organization’s application to Pennsylvania’s Local Share Account grant program, CEO Alisa Jones told City Council there would be two phases: The development of space for the organization’s administrative offices, budgeted at $5 million; then the clinic buildout, with a budget still to be determined.
The goal is to complete the second phase by the end of 2026, Jones said; which would coincide with the deadline for expending ARPA funding.
