When Mayor Brian Stack walked through the Union City Health Care Center at 714 31st St. a few weeks ago, he couldn’t believe it was the same building he worked out of six years ago.
"It’s like a new building," said Stack.
Stack worked in the building six years ago when he served as deputy director of public affairs and oversaw the city’s Health Department. "It was very old and antiquated," he said.
Four years ago, the city entered into a contract with North Hudson Community Action Corporation, a non-profit regional community service/health agency based in West New York.
The contract stated that the NHCAC could use the building to provide the public health services for the city. Public health services include immunizations, wee-baby care and the physicals for the Union City Board of Education and various day cares throughout the city. At the same time, the NHCAC could provide some of their own health services for low-income city residents. They are offered on a sliding scale based on income.
When the NHCAC moved in, they began renovating. Recently, the NHCAC entered the third and final stage of renovations.
"We have been growing in leaps and bounds," said NHCAC President Michael Leggiero, who added that the services provided by NHCAC have already expanded to include primary care such as pediatrics, women’s health, and adult care.
"I am glad that we have a facility like this in Union City," said Union City Mayor Brian Stack. "We are pleased to tell the people of Union City that we have one of the best and most modern health care centers in the state."
The final stage of renovations will include a $368,000 upgrade. This allows for expanded services in women’s health, mental health, dental care and other services. The funding for the renovations is from the Union City Community Development Agency, who secured a Hudson County Community Development Block Grant.
In phases
The third and final phase of renovations will apply to the entire second floor, allowing NHCAC to expand their services further. The second floor will house a new women’s health suite, a dental suite and space for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
"Affordable and convenient health care is a very important issue in Union City because many residents are low-income and have limited means of transportation," said Stack.
The building’s first stage included renovations of the first floor, the only floor in the two-story structure being used at this point.
According to Leggiero, the first floor was completely gutted to build a new waiting area. The building was made handicapped-accessible.
This phase was paid for through a combination of Federal Health Center 330 Bureau Primary Care Funds, NHCAC funding and Union City Community Development Agency Grant money.
The second phase of renovations included an upgrade to the exterior of the facility. That phase included a new façade, new sidewalks and a new parking lot, new fencing and drainage system.
Renovations to the exterior of the building were funded through a $63,350 Hudson County Community Development Block Grant.