Construction for a new health clinic in Ronan is nearing it's end.
The original Confederated Salish and Kootenai Health Center was demolished in 2021 due to the U.S. Highway 93 expansion.
A small temporary clinic took it's place and only provides limited care for tribal elders.
When the main clinic reopens later this spring, visitors of all ages will have access to primary care, urgent care, behavior health services and a pharmacy.
According to CSKT Council Chairman Tom McDonald, new services will reduce driving times for people forced to go out of town for care.
"That's a huge economic and climate reduction footprint thing that we, we look forward to, so they're not traveling, taking that time away from their jobs or their family to be able to go," said McDonald.
McDonald believes the pharmacy alone will allow for tens of thousands of visits to remain local and expects the main clinic to open in May.
A future expansion will include a fitness center and an extended pharmacy.
MoFi released the following information:
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal members, their descendants and members of other tribes will again have access to comprehensive health care services in Ronan after a new clinic received funding through the federal New Markets Tax Credits program. The new $10.3 million CSKT Health Center replaces a clinic that was condemned and demolished to make way for the expansion of U.S. Highway 93. Despite having a small clinic during highway construction, most tribal members have been forced to travel elsewhere for vital health care services for the last four years.
Financing for the new CSKT Health Center came together through partnerships between CSKT, U.S. Bank and community development lender, MoFi. The project highlights the power of the NMTC program to help finance community facilities in places where they are needed most. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2024.
“For too long, CSKT Tribal members and folks across Indian Country have had to travel long distances just to get basic health care,” said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. “This is unacceptable, and it’s why I worked to ensure CSKT can access funding for critical projects like this one through the New Markets Tax Credit Program. I’ll always work alongside Tribes in Montana to ensure they have access to the capital they need to expand access to health care, build critical infrastructure, and create good-paying jobs right here in Indian Country.”
“Investing in the health and safety of Montanans is critical, especially for our Montana Tribes. The CSKT Health Center will provide quality health care services to folks in Ronan and the surrounding communities, and it was all made possible by the New Markets Tax Credit,” said U.S. Senator Steve Daines. “Over the last 20 years, NMTC financed nearly 40 projects in Montana – an over $460 million investment directly into the Treasure State – and created more than 5,500 Montana jobs. I’ll keep working to make the NMTC permanent so more Montana communities can reap the benefits of these new and exciting projects.”
“We are honored to partner with the team that led the efforts to get the New Markets Tax Credit in place for the CSKT Ronan Health Clinic,” said Chairman Tom McDonald. “This funding allowed for a reinvestment into the community, bringing back a fitness center and physical therapy, to the wealth of health services at this clinic. We expect this additional project to be completed in early 2024.”
About CSKT Health Center
CSKT Tribal Health estimates up to 70% of its patients are low-income individuals and families. Ronan is home to the largest number of tribal members on the Flathead Reservation and houses the greatest number of CSKT businesses and employees, making it a convenient location for the new clinic.
When the original clinic was demolished for highway construction in 2021, it was replaced by a smaller, temporary clinic that provided limited primary care only to tribal elders. All other tribal members had to travel to Polson and St. Ignatius for health services. Accessing health care was further complicated by a lack of public transportation and limited capacity at the two clinics.
While the tribe received compensation to build a new clinic as part of the highway expansion, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and significant cost increases to build the new CSKT Health Center. This forced CSKT to scale back on the project, reducing the square footage of the new facility and thus reducing vital health care services.
Financing from the NMTC program will now allow CSKT to add back square footage to the new facility, as well as critical services to better serve the needs of the community.
The new 12,000-square-foot CSKT Health Center will provide full-service primary care, urgent care, a dedicated area for infectious patients, an infusion center, behavioral health services, a pharmacy, physical therapy services and a community fitness center. Each year, the Tribal Health Department expects to provide primary care and behavioral health services to 3,000 patients, fill 35,000 prescriptions, help 450 patients with physical therapy and serve 600 community members in the fitness center.
Additionally, the new CSKT Health Center is expected to create 17 full-time, good-paying jobs, many of which will be available to low-income people.
Through the NMTC program, MoFi works with community leaders, businesses and nonprofits to identify projects that would have the greatest impact and best benefit from the tax credit, based on factors that include the provision of services in low-income areas, alignment with local development priorities and job creation. MoFi sells the tax credits to investors and puts the proceeds from the sales back into the projects – projects that would otherwise not move forward without the tax credits.
U.S. Bank has agreed to purchase the New Markets Tax Credits for the CSKT Health Center project.
“For more than two decades, the New Markets Tax Credit has played a vital role funding projects across Montana that stimulate economic growth and job creation, and that help some of the state’s most vulnerable people,” said Dave Glaser, President of MoFi. “Through our partnerships with U.S. Bank, as well as CSKT and Montana’s U.S. senators, tribal members will have uncomplicated access to life-saving health care services for generations to come.”
“We believe everyone deserves to live in a thriving community with access to essential resources. This new and expanded center will bring quality healthcare services in a location that’s easy for tribal members to access, as well as new jobs,” said Steve Kramer, Senior Vice President and Business Development Officer with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation. “We’re proud to partner again with MoFi and help make this project a reality.”
About New Markets Tax Credit
Since the NMTC program was established in 2000, it has brought in excess of $460 million to Montana communities and created more than 5,500 jobs for Montanans through more than 30 projects across the state.
Many communities, businesses and nonprofits are eligible for NMTC financing. The first project in the state of Montana was the Garlington, Lohn & Robinson building in downtown Missoula, which was completed in 2009. Others include nonprofits such as the Great Falls Rescue Mission, redevelopment projects like the Independent Record building in Helena and the construction of community staples such as the Ace Hardware in Butte.
The program has remained, thanks to several extensions, but is currently set to expire in 2025. Upon election into federal office, both Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), have been avid proponents of the NMTC program, co-sponsoring legislation to improve its performance and to make it permanent. In February, Sen. Daines announced he is the lead co-sponsor on the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2023, which would make the NMTC program a lasting part of the tax code.
About MoFi
MoFi is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Since 2007, MoFi has provided financing and business consulting to disadvantaged entrepreneurs and business owners, enriching their lives and strengthening their local communities. MoFi operates across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon with offices in Missoula, Bozeman, Boise and Salt Lake City. Learn more at https://www.mofi.org/.