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Healthcare corp. seeks federal grants for hospital
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Posted on May 02 2012
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is currently seeking federal monies to support some of the projects that need to be done at the Commonwealth Health Center, according to chief executive officer Juan N. Babauta.
Babauta said the corporation is applying for “at least four different small pieces of grants” with the Office of Insular Affairs under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
These grants, Babauta said, would be used for small projects such as elevator repairs and installation of solar panels at CHC.
The corporation is also pursuing “bigger piece” of grants, Babauta said, by going through the Capital Improvement Projects office with the assistance of CIP coordinator Vicky Villagomez.
He disclosed that he met with OIA field representative Jeff Schorr on April 30 to discuss the current situation of the corporation.
Schorr, in a phone interview, confirmed Monday’s meeting but noted that his conversation with Babauta was only intended for “general awareness” and “staying up to date” with what’s happening at the corporation. Schorr said his office wants to keep abreast of what’s happening in the Commonwealth.
When asked if OIA intends to provide financial assistance to the troubled corporation, Schorr said, “That’s not my decision” and that the question will have to be directed to their Washington office.
Since the corporation was created in October 2011 to take over the responsibilities of the former Department of Public Health, it has been actively working on balancing its initial seed money of $5 million and taking actions, including the implementation of a reduction-in-force on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
