Village awarded clinic funding

Staff Report

May 12, 2008 04:00 am

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The village of Middleburgh is set to receive a $224,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal to help launch a health-care facility in Schoharie County.

The funding will be used by the village to assist Bassett Healthcare in its efforts to establish a full-time primary care clinic for area residents.

The assistance will help reduce the lease cost of the building for Bassett. Without this assistance, the monthly lease payment would be too high, forcing Bassett to abandon its efforts, officials said.

The formation of a clinic will create at least 14 jobs over three years, with eight jobs to be filled by low- and moderate-income persons.

Division of Housing and Community Renewal Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen said there was ``an urgent need to add health-care services to those currently in place in Schoharie and Cobleskill."

Middleburgh Mayor William Ansel-McCabe said the grant would allow his village to ``join neighboring communities who are served by the Bassett Healthcare and enjoy the economic stimulus provided by the creation of new jobs as well. "

Bassett Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Dr. William F. Streck said ``Middleburgh residents have anticipated the opening of this facility for some time, and we are pleased to share in the successful completion of this vision."