The center, which treats 40,000 patients a year, is the second-largest immigrant health provider in Massachusetts.
View full sizeA view of the Caring Health Center at 1049 Main St. in Springfield.SPRINGFIELD – Despite suffering more than $500,000 in tornado damage, the Caring Health Center is pushing ahead with its $18.7 million expansion on Main Street, with construction set to begin in August, Gov. Deval L. Patrick announced Tuesday.
Speaking at a news conference in the storm-battered South End, Patrick said the June 1 tornado caused about $590,000 in damage to the health center’s 1145 Main Street clinic, as well as the expansion site at the former Hampden Furniture building across the street.
Patrick said he was delighted that the tornado did not demolish the building, or even delay the deadline for the start of construction.
“I’m thrilled to see this project will move forward as we recover from this extraordinary event,” the two-term Democrat said.
The building is being renovated to house medical, dental, counseling, and administrative offices and a pharmacy for the publicly funded health center, which treats 40,000 patients a year and is the second-largest immigrant health provider in Massachusetts.
Anne Awad, the center’s director, said the roof of the Hampden Furniture building was torn off, but the costs should be covered by insurance.
Several other state officials, including Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Gregory Bialecki, secretary for housing and economic development, and state Sen. James T. Welch, D- West Springfield, also attended the news conference.
The center purchased the 40,000-square-foot Hampden Furniture building for $525,000 at auction in 2008. When completed, the expansion will provide an estimated 100 new jobs, along with the center’s 75 current employees.
The project will also generate 60 to 80 construction jobs, Patrick and Murray said.