Federal Grant Will Boost Coronavirus Testing In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — An $11.1 million grant will help federally qualified health centers (FQHC) across the state, including in Newark, to expand their coronavirus testing, officials announced Friday.

In a joint statement, Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker of New Jersey praised the new funding and said that FQHCs are “trusted providers for many in lower-income communities who need access to health care services.”

The recipients can use the funding to “expand testing and testing-related activities,” such as the purchase of personal protective equipment, staff training and the procurement and administration of COVID-19 tests.

The list of awardees includes:

• North Hudson Community Action Corporation $1,190,419
• Community Health Care, Inc. $1,033,594
• Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc. $905,944
• Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. $873,184
• Lakewood Resource And Referral Center, Inc. $819,484
• Zufall Health Center, Inc. $694,774
• CAMcare Health Corporation $674,164
• Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. $575,404
• Jewish Renaissance Medical Center $455,134
• Henry J. Austin Health Center, Inc. $374,494
• Metropolitan Family Health Network, Inc. $353,389
• Rutgers University (New Brunswick) $345,949
• Osborn Family Health Center, Inc. $318,604
• Visiting Nurse Association Of Central Jersey Community Health Center $312,424
• Paterson Community Health Center Inc. $307,579
• Monmouth Family Health Center $303,409
• Horizon Health Center, Inc $292,204
• Neighborhood Health Services Corporation $267,289
• City of Newark $263,824
• Atlanticare Health Services, Inc. $224,629
• Project H.O.P.E. $183,514
• Saint James Health, Inc $135,349
• The Jewish Renaissance Foundation Inc. $112,129
• Rutgers University (Newark) $111,049

“Our state and nation cannot safely and responsibly begin to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen our economy until we expand our testing capabilities,” Menendez said. “This funding will allow our FQHCs to continue caring for the most vulnerable in our communities and ensure they can test their patients. I appreciate Gov. Murphy’s leadership during this difficult time and will continue working to secure the federal resources our state needs to combat the virus, support our families and small businesses and boost our economy.”

“Expanding New Jersey’s testing capabilities is not only critical to the health and safety of our residents, but also to getting our economy moving again,” Booker said. “Our community health centers provide vital health care services to some of our most underserved communities and play an important role in our larger effort to contain the spread of this virus and protecting all New Jerseyans.”

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