Northwest PA News

U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson announced that the Dickinson Center Building Project in St. Marys has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). This funding aims to consolidate various community and health services in Elk and Cameron counties into a new downtown facility, enhancing access to care for thousands of residents.

"Having spent nearly 30 years in health care, I am passionate about improving access to high-quality care in our communities," Rep. Thompson stated. "This updated, modern facility in the greater Saint Marys region will aid health care workers in providing quality care to combat our nation's mental health crisis and offer other critical services to the community. I am proud to support this project and look forward to improved services for patients for years to come."

Jim Prosper, Executive Director of Dickinson Center, expressed his gratitude: "Dickinson Center is thrilled that the ARC Area Development Grant was awarded to the City of St. Marys to support Dickinson's St. Marys Building Project. We are incredibly grateful to the City and to Congressman Thompson and his team for their support of our building project in downtown St. Marys. Our new building will allow us to centralize our services in St. Marys and improve access to behavioral health services in our rural area."

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency comprising federal and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across Appalachia. Its mission includes innovating, partnering, and investing to build community capacity, strengthen economic growth, and help achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

Combined with $3 million in state funding and more than $4.1 million in local funding, this project will result in over $7.8 million dedicated to local economic development.

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About Dickinson Center Inc.:

Dickinson Center Inc., currently operating four locations within St. Marys serving Elk and Cameron counties, plans a new 12,000 sq ft building that will house several programs under one roof including Children's Prevention Services, Parents as Teachers Center, Crossroads Partial Hospitalization Program outpatient services, Signs of Suicide program among others community-based programming efforts aimed at eliminating commuting burdens between multiple clinics.