The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe is Looking to The Future with $44 Million Tribal Health Center
Overview of The Project
Overview of The Project
The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa known as the Anishinabeg, the people of Odaawaa-Zaaga'iganiing have taken care of their community through health facilities located five miles apart. The LCO Tribe has battled with the COVID-19 pandemic, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. Capacity issues has made it so many tribal members had been forced to seek care in other areas more than 100 miles from the reservation according to a Baker Tilly case study.
Now, the LCO is advancing their capacity to take care of tribal members by building a 64,421-square-foot modern health center. The LCO wanted to take a holistic approach and incorporate long-term comprehensive care including medical, dental, and behavioral health services together in the Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center.
Construction of Health Center
Construction of Health Center
Brunton & Associates
The construction of the 64,421-square-foot modern health center will allow increase in service capacity for patients served along with expanded healthcare services.
The previous Health Center Director, Dr. Gary Girard, said the project was designed by input from a wide collaboration of healthcare staff, healthcare consumers, contractors, elders, a healthcare advisory board and the tribal governing board according to Sawyer County Record.
“This is going to take care of generations who are not here yet. We are always taught as native people to always look to the future. You do what you can when you can to prepare for that.”
According to the Baker Tilly case study, the new Community Health Center will:
Provide affordable, accessible healthcare to tribal residents where 40% of members fall below the federal poverty line.
Increase annual patient visits by 98%, totaling 38,000 visits and approximately 9,500 unique patients, including over 67% low-income persons and over 85% tribal members.
More than double dentistry patient capacity and added a new eyecare service offering which was needed to address indirect effects of diabetes and kidney disease. Additionally, the Tribe established a full-service pharmacy.
The new director, Scott Johnson, says the LCO Tribe expects the project will be completed early 2025. He also stated the tribe is working with Brunton & Associates and Woodstone In. to build the center according to the Tribe’s website. He also says so far the project is on schedule and under budget.
Funding The Project
Funding The Project
The tribe committed $7 million to the project and received a $5 million in a grant from the State of Wisconsin. Additionally, with help from Baker Tilly the tribe obtained $12 million in New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) that would be forgiven if the clinic is open for at least seven years.
Lastly, the tribe used the NMTC structure to obtain a $20 Million revolving loan with five out of the six funders being a Native Community Development Financial Institution (NCDFI).
Oweesta Corporation says:
“Bringing in NCDFI revolving loan funds is providing the opportunity for NCDFIs to participate in a NMTC project, and experience how this type of financing vehicle is structured and how NMTCs can be utilized for large scale community development projects in Indian Country.”
The six lenders are the Oweesta Corporation, Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, Native American Bank, Bay Bank, First American Capital Corporation, and IFF.
The previous Health Center Director, Dr. Gary Girard, estimated the facility would generate between $1.2-$1.4 million a year.
“What I’m really looking for is that my grandchildren’s grandchildren will be able to get the healthcare they need because of the work or foresight of the leadership of our tribe, and the leadership of the clinic, and those who are supporting partners,”
Glenn Hall, Project Director of the Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center
Learn more about this project from CoP Event with Glenn Hall:
Learn more about this project from CoP Event with Glenn Hall:
Sources used in this blog
Sources used in this blog
Subject Matter Experts related to this blog:
The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Website
Tribal board approves $42 million health center - Sawyer County Record
Well over 100 attend groundbreaking for new LCO Health Center - Sawyer County Record
New Health Center Construction Moving Right Along According to Reports - LCO Website
Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center - Oweesta Corporation
PHOTO UPDATE OF AREA HEALTH CENTER/MEDICAL FACILITIES PROJECTS - Sawyer County Records
Glenn Hall
Click to learn more about the Project Director of Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center
Matthew Pugh
Click to learn more about the Senior Manager with Baker Tilly Capital
The Chippewa Cree Tribe is planting seeds for the future on Rocky Boy's Reservation by building the Mīyō Pimātisiwinkamik Youth Center. The facility will take a holistic view of health by not only addressing medical needs, but, mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well.