Kilmer Helps North Olympic Healthcare Network Secure New Federal Investment
Port Angeles, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN) had secured an over $4 million federal investment through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The new rural development investment, which Kilmer advocated for in a letter to former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue, is intended to help NOHN purchase the building it currently leases to provide community health services in downtown Port Angeles. Ownership is intended to help enable the network to lower costs and provide more services to its clients, most of whom are low-income or lack health insurance. This project is expected to benefit more than 19,000 residents on the Olympic Peninsula.
“As someone who was born and raised in Port Angeles, I know how important it is to continue to ensure folks in every corner of our region have access to quality, affordable health care. The North Olympic Healthcare Network does tremendous work in that capacity – ensuring that folks across Clallam County have access to primary care, behavioral health services, and dental care – regardless of their ability to pay,” said Rep. Kilmer. “I’m thrilled NOHN was able to secure federal support to ensure they can continue to serve folks in our region for years to come.”
“North Olympic Healthcare Network is pleased and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the USDA Loan Guarantee Program. This important and impactful program enabled us to access low-interest lending and convert a high-cost lease into a lower monthly cost mortgage,” said Michael S. Maxwell, MD - CEO, North Olympic Healthcare Network. “We are leveraging those savings into expanding access to more essential healthcare services for our patients. Rep. Kilmer’s advocacy on behalf of this investment is deeply appreciated and is yet another example of his consistent support for advancing high quality health care in our district.”
“The Biden-Harris administration has made beating the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring the economy a top-priority, and USDA is playing a critical role,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson in announcing federal investments in 41 projects through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. “USDA Rural Development programs and services are in a unique position to help rural communities facing challenges caused by the pandemic. The investments announced today will spur community development and build sound infrastructure like hospitals and medical facilities to help rural America build back better and stronger.”
NOHN is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center providing comprehensive, full-spectrum primary care, behavioral health services, and dental care to residents of Clallam County regardless of their ability to pay. As a 501(c)3 not-for-profit health care provider governed by a patient-majority consumer community board, its mission is to provide patient-centered, quality-driven, whole-person healthcare services that are accessible to everyone in the community.
The announcement was made as part of USDA’s investment of $266 million to build and improve critical community facilities to benefit nearly 3 million rural residents in 16 states and Puerto Rico. This funding includes $156 million to support health-care-related improvements and emergency response services that will benefit nearly 1 million rural residents in nine states and Puerto Rico.