Frederiksted Health Care has applied for $7.3 million in federal stimulus money to renovate the Frederiksted Health Center, commonly known as the Old Frederiksted Hospital.
As a community health center, Frederiksted Health Care is eligible for the funding opportunity through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to Gov. John deJongh Jr.
If approved, the governor said, the grant would provide the opportunity to rehabilitate the complex, which is already blighted; stimulate the economy; and provide additional space for both Frederiksted Health Care and the services provided to the Frederiksted community by the Department of Health.
Architectural plans have already been developed and partial funds allocated for the renovation and rehabilitation of the complex.
“The acquisition of this grant and the collaboration between both Frederiksted Health Care and the Department of Health ultimately allows for the repairs to a historic building,” deJongh said. “The Health Department intends to provide non-competing services such as WIC, Medicaid enrollment, Environmental Health and other specialty services. These services will all be very good for the Frederiksted community, and would complement the primary health-care services that Frederiksted Health Center provides.”
Through this project, deJongh said, FHC anticipates that it will once again offer the full complement of “one-stop” health-care services, alleviating the need for Frederiksted residents to have to travel across the island of St. Croix to receive such services.
