Capital Link would like to congratulate Avenue Community Development Corporation with Legacy Community Health, Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Esperanza Health Centers, and First Choice Community Healthcare for being awarded Healthy Futures Fund (HFF) planning grants provided by The Kresge Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The health centers were selected for their ability to demonstrate plans for innovative, groundbreaking capital projects (described in the box below) that involve unique collaborations with community partners to expand access to health care while also addressing at least one other critical community need, such as affordable housing, access to healthy food, job training, schools, elder care, and other community wellness projects.

Prior to receiving the grants, all four health centers participated in a free HFF Readiness Program, offered by Capital Link and sponsored by LISC and Kresge. Capital Link provided program participants, a group of 10 centers selected through a competitive application process, with technical assistance to advance their capital project plans and prepare for additional funding. A HFF partner, Capital Link developedthe Readiness Program based on our 18 years of planning and development experience in support of FQHCs nationwide.

A $200 million initiative formed by the LISC, Morgan Stanley, and Kresge, HFF utilizes New Markets Tax Credit and loan capital to improve community health by expanding healthcare access and addressing social determinants of health. Read more here.