Chicago Family Health Center breaks ground on 30,000 square foot addition

April 12, 2006

CFHC to expand existing South Chicago site to provide greater accessible to affordable, comprehensive primary health care

For nearly 30 years, Chicago Family Health Center (CFHC) as taken on one of the most important roles in the South Chicago community, that of health-care provider to ensure that everyone who seeks care receives high-quality, comprehensive health care. During that time, the South Chicago community has gone through many changes, as has Chicago Family Health Center. Opened in 1977 in a store front on South Commercial Avenue, CFHC provided health care to 400 patients with four physicians and a small administrative staff. Today, the Chicago Family Health Center, located on South Exchange Avenue since 1985, provides care to over 10,000 patients with 12 physicians and 150 support staff. While the Center’s patient population has grown, the facilities in which services have been provided have not. As a result, the existing facility is operating at greater than the 14,000-square-foot capacity will allow.

On Thursday, April 20, 2006, Chicago Family Health Center will begin a new chapter in its long history by breaking ground on a 30,000-square-foot addition to its existing facility. When completed in the spring of 2007, the new facility will have a total of 30 new exam rooms, additional dental operatories, expanded lab and pharmacy space, and a separate area for mental health services. Other related programs such as Developmental Disabilities, Family Case Management and Outreach will be moved into the new building, bringing all services under one roof.

The expansion project is partially being funded by a federal earmark grant through Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. “The $900,000 federal earmark from the Congressman will be utilized two ways: $450,000 will be used for the design and the infrastructure needed to take on a project like this one and the other half will be used to purchase the necessary equipment for the new building once the construction is completed,” commented Wendy R. Cox, Chief Executive Officer of CFHC. “This project would not have gotten off the ground without the Congressman’s support.”

Major financing for the project is being provided by
MB Financial Bank’s Community Development Corporation and the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF). In 2005, the MB Community Development Corporation assisted in providing financing of $105 million in community development loans and $17.5 million in investments through MB Financial Bank. The MB Community Development Corporation assisted in providing financing for Chicago Family Health center. In addition, MB Community Development Corporation has invested in the Illinois Facility Fund.

Chicago Family Health Center is a community-based, non-profit health center that provides high-quality, comprehensive, accessible primary health care to the residents of South Chicago, Roseland and surrounding communities. In 2005, CFHC served over 17,000 patients regardless of their ability to pay.

MB Financial Bank (www.mbfinancial.com) is a locally-operated financial institution that has been delivering competitive personalized service for more than 90 years to privately-owned companies as well as to individuals who live and work in the Chicago metropolitan area.
MB Financial Bank has 40 branches in the Chicago area. MB Financial, Inc. is a Chicago-based financial holding company which is traded on the NASDAQ as “MBFI.”

The Illinois Facilities Fund is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Illinois nonprofits grow their assets to ensure financial and operational health. The Fund assists nonprofit organizations that serve disadvantaged communities. Services include below-market loans, facilities planning, real estate development, and research. The IFF is the only statewide community development financial institution in Illinois and the only one of its kind to offer combined financial and real estate services needed by nonprofits.

For more information on this project, call Kathryn L. McLain at (773) 768-5000 extension 1144.