Centre Volunteers in Medicine will use a $3 million state grant to help with the cost of updating its new facility.
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project funding was approved by Centre County commissioners during an Oct. 11 meeting and will be matched with $3,141,925 by CVIM as it renovates a property purchased last year on Sandy Drive in Ferguson Township.
RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
CVIM has outgrown its 6,700-square-foot facility on Green Tech Drive in Patton Township. Last fall, with other state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds and lead gifts from the Hamer Foundation and community members, CVIM purchased the 2026 Sandy Drive building for $2.35 million.
In August, CVIM announced that the facility will be named the Palmer Family Clinic in recognition of a $2 million gift from the Palmer Family Foundation, which was established by the late philanthropists Jim and Barbara Palmer. The project also has received other state and federal grants and donations from community members and organizations.
Construction at the building has already started. When renovations are completed, the new building will include more than 11,000 square feet of exam and office space in an energy efficient and technologically up-to-date building, said CVIM Executive Director Cheryl White.
The extra space will allow the nonprofit to expand its dental and behavioral health programs, said White. The dental program will grow from four operatories to six and allow for a full-time dentist who is funded by the Department of Health.
“So that waiting list of over 400 people is being chipped away at even as we speak,” said White.
The behavioral health program will have its own dedicated space in the new facility, along with a room for group counseling.
White told commissioners that she hoped the facility would be ready to serve the public next spring.
Since it began in 2003, CVIM has provided free medical care, as well as dental care, behavioral health services and case management assistance to low-income, uninsured individuals who live or work in Centre County. Those services rely on support from the community, volunteer efforts and partnerships with Mount Nittany Health, Geisinger, Penn State Health and the United Way.
The program is powered by almost 200 volunteers who do everything from seeing patients to taking out the recycling, said White.
“We always have volunteer options available, and you can see them on the website. That is the beauty of a volunteer clinic. We are able to take those dollars that people donate and multiply that by three, as far as the health care we provide, because, for the most part, we are not paying professional staff,” said White.
With its capital campaign for the building now a success, the program still is working on its general fundraising campaign, as it still needs funds to operate.
“As a true free clinic, we have no regular source of income. We do not charge for the services we supply. We are truly blessed by the community that supports us,” said White, adding that the new building reflects the growing need for services in the community.
“I don’t think in our lifetime there will ever not be a need for free care for the working poor who can’t afford insurance and can’t qualify for medical assistance,” said White.
