Mattapan Community Health Center (MCHC) breaks ground on $32 million 50,000 s/f facility

In a community-wide celebration, Mattapan Community Health Center (MCHC) recently broke ground on its new state of the art health facility to be built in the heart of Boston's Mattapan neighborhood - one of the city's most under-served communities. "We are grateful to have our patients, community residents, supporters and friends on this journey with us," said Dr. Azzie Young, president and CEO of MCHC. "The new MCHC facility reflects our 38 year commitment to providing the residents of Mattapan and surrounding communities with access to high quality health care. This new facility will allow us to meet the growing demand for preventive health services, and clinical care, and to expand our dental, pediatric, adolescent, women's and men's health, and mental health services." The new center - the first new building of this size to be constructed in Mattapan Square in a half century - will create approximately 150 new and permanent jobs. It will also bring a new pharmacy to Mattapan Square for the first time in more than 30 years Funding for the $32 million project came from four sources: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), New Markets Tax Credit Equity, loans and philanthropic support. The MCHC has raised more than $30 million for the project over the past five years. It has raised more than $9.8 million, or more than 82%, of the necessary $12 million in philanthropic support. To date, major contributions have come from: Boston Medical Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Partners HealthCare, Children's Hospital Boston, Gregory Bulger, Richard Slifka, Denise and Bill Finard, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, The Smith Family Foundation, State Street Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital. The new 50,000 s/f building, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011, is designed to achieve a Silver LEED certification. It will feature the use of recycled and regional building materials, energy efficient HVAC and lighting systems, and a green roof. Steffian Bradley Architects designed the building in collaboration with the MCHC team.