Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) joined the South Texas Rural Health Services to announce a $500,000 Affordable Care Act federal grant for improvements to the facility in Cotulla, Texas.

“Thanks to the health care law, community health centers across Texas, including the Atascosa Health Center, will soon be able to significantly expand services to their patients,” Congressman Cuellar said. “People in South Texas who live far from hospitals rely on health centers for the majority of their medical needs. This investment in our community and its health will provide high quality health care, support good paying jobs and boost the local economy.  Thank you to South Texas Rural Health Services for undertaking this important project.”

South Texas Rural Health Services was established in Cotulla in 1975 and has since expanded into eight primary locations. The Cotulla facility is currently housed in an outdated sixty-year old building that requires continuous maintenance due to its flat built-up roof system, the high temperatures extremes and poor ventilation.

The grant will fund the replacement of the roof with a pitched, framed metal roofing system to prevent leaks as well as an increase number of air vents to allow for free-flowing cross ventilation under the building. For future maintenance and service, waterlines will be relocated. The grant will also fund handicap exit routes in areas of the building that are currently not handicap accessible. The design and construction of the renovations will also include energy efficiency and green standards.

“During these times of financial insecurity and reduction in funding, it becomes more difficult for rural areas to compete for resources to upgrade facilities – a necessary if we want to continue providing accessible high quality services to our populations in need,” said Mr. Alfredo Zamora, CEO of south Texas Rural Health Services. “Congressman Cuellar has dedicated his time and efforts to making sure our rural communities are justly funded.”

South Texas Rural Health Services provided a total of 35,733 patient visits last year, ranging from dental and mental health visits to substance abuse and patient education visits. According to the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, the facility improvement project will create six jobs and have a total economic impact of $575,917 at the local level.