Clear skies. Low 69F. Winds light and variable..

Clear skies. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.

LEWISTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has announced that USDA is awarding $74 million in grants to improve health care facilities in rural areas across the nation. These grants will go to 143 rural health care organizations in 37 states, including two in our region.

The Nez Perce Tribe will receive $1 million to construct a facility in response to COVID-19. The new facility will serve as a site for testing and vaccination. It will also provide beds and acute urgent medical care to Tribal and non-Tribal patients to help alleviate severe overcrowding conditions at area medical centers which lack bed capacity due to the pandemic, according to the USDA. The new facility will also be accompanied by an assisted living facility located adjacent to the existing Nimiipuu Health Clinic.

The Garfield County Hospital District in Pomeroy will also receive $1 million be used to replace an aging electrical system to ensure it has the capacity to respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics by upgrading critical electrical infrastructure, including connecting the system to an emergency generator. This will support higher patient volumes in the emergency room and the ability to have improved laboratory services and advanced diagnostic capabilities. This CAH services all of Garfield County, which is the least populated county in Washington state.

The Biden Administration made the funds available in the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Programs through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Clear skies. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.

Clear skies. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.

A mainly sunny sky. High 91F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

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