T-L Photos/GAGE VOTA Gov. Mike DeWine and first lady Fran DeWine smile while revealing the contents of a “swag bag” they received as a gift while announcing the local grant. The bag was filled with items from the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted are touring Appalachian Ohio, announcing dozens of “transformational projects” to improve access to healthcare — including creation of a $3.3 million community-based health center near St. Clairsville.

DeWine, his wife Fran and Husted visited the former Health and Physical Education Center on the campus of Ohio University Eastern on Friday to reveal the news that the state will fund the local effort.

East Central Ohio Educational Service Center recently moved into the facility and applied for $3,315,924 in partnership with Ohio Hills Health Centers and Ohio University to establish the center.

DeWine said he and the first lady were “delighted” to make the trip to Belmont County.

“The announcement we are making today is the first of three announcements,” DeWine said, noting more announcements will be made in the coming weeks and months. “… So we worked with our partners in the General Assembly to create what we’re calling the Appalachian Community Grant Program. And we do it with kind of a shared dream that we all have, and that is to reunite the pioneer spirit of the people who helped build this great state.

“But today we’re here, specifically, to award more than $3.3 million to the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center to establish a new health and wellness center on the second floor of this building.”

DeWine explained that the funding is a result of Ohio House Bill 377, which he signed into law in June 2022. In that bill, the legislature committed $500 million to provide planning and development grants for communities in Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region. The money is a result of federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars distributed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint ECOESC-OHHC-OUE project in the facility a few miles west of St. Clairsville will serve students from multiple school districts in several counties. Plans for the center include four dental treatment bays, three exam rooms, two physician offices and a laboratory. The project summary states the facility will serve as a “regional hub for healthcare services and workforce development programming for students, families, and adult residents of Belmont and surrounding counties.”

It is part of the new Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, which provides more than $64 million to the Appalachian Children Coalition to support creation or expansion of community- and school-based health clinics, the launch of healthcare-focused workforce development programs, and more, according to the governor’s office. The funding will be divided among 28 projects that are expected to impact 61,000 students and 375,000 residents across 20 Appalachian counties. Partners include 34 school districts, a career technical school, the educational service center, and 16 healthcare partners. Expanded services will include comprehensive primary care, dental, vision, and mental health services for children, families, and communities.

DeWine said the new center will provide care to students in Belmont, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Guernsey and Harrison counties. It will also offer clinical rotations for students in healthcare fields.

“Our vision for Ohio’s future is one where all Ohioans, no matter where they’re from, have the opportunity to live up to their full potential,” the governor said.

Husted told the crowd gathered for the announcement that this investment will improve access to healthcare so children can thrive and learn. He said meeting basic human needs will help pave the pathway to a brighter future for the community and the state.

Husted stressed that the grant is one-time spending to establish systems that are self-sustaining.

Randy Lucas, ECOESC superintendent, thanked DeWine and Husted for the funds and said his agency’s mission is to “help schools help students.” He believes development of the center will do that by meeting physical and mental health needs of students and their families, by creating a community resource where athletic events and activities can be held, by providing workforce development and making the gym and walking track available to residents, groups, seniors and others in the community.

Jeff Britton, CEO of OHHC, also thanked state leaders for the funding and said it was a great honor to be part of the project. He explained that the organization is a nonprofit that serves people in nine counties in Ohio and three in West Virginia. It accepts Medicaid and provides financial assistance to patients as needed. The future center will help it expand that impact across the region.

“Studies show that healthy students learn better,” he added.

DeWine concluded the presentation by saying he looks forward to returning to the facility “in about a year” to attend the ribbon cutting and view the finished project.

Britton later said the center will use telehealth to provide many services to people who may not live in the immediate area. He added that the ECOESC is exploring options that might allow the center to provide transportation as well.