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Centre County approves $900,000 ARPA payment to Centre Care; $500,000 contingent on fundraising milestones
Summary
The Centre County Commissioners approved a $900,000 American Rescue Plan payment to Centre Care with an additional $500,000 contingent on fundraising milestones; commissioners and Centre Care leaders emphasized the facility’s role preserving Medicaid‑funded nursing beds locally and warned community support will be needed for long‑term viability.
Centre County commissioners voted to approve immediate funding to Centre Care, a nonprofit skilled nursing provider, and outlined a conditional package intended to sustain local Medicaid nursing capacity.
The board approved a $900,000 one‑time payment drawn from the county’s American Rescue Plan funds and authorized an additional $500,000 to be released if Centre Care meets agreed fundraising and development milestones. Commissioners also said they are negotiating a separate, potential $600,000 payment tied to sale of a portion of Centre Care real estate; that element required final solicitor review and board signoff.
Centre Care spokesman Andrew (introduced as the organization’s administrator during discussion) thanked the commissioners at the meeting and urged community donations to a “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” fund hosted on Centre Care’s website. “We look forward to showing you and the members of the community over the next few months, and years what these dollars can do,” Andrew said.
Commissioners described the allocation as an investment to protect Medicaid beds that provide long‑term care for residents who cannot pay private rates. Commissioner Concepcion called the funding “a carefully considered investment in the long term sustainability of what’s an absolutely crucial community institution.” Concepcion and other commissioners stressed that the ARPA monies are largely one‑time, and that sustained community and legislative support will be required to keep Medicaid beds available locally.
Commissioner Dersham described Centre Care’s roughly 240 Medicaid beds as critical to the county’s capacity for long‑term care and noted the county’s prior ownership of the facility. He said the county’s contribution, together with the nonprofit board’s fundraising, should buy roughly two years of operating runway but will not be a permanent funding solution.
In discussion with reporters, Centre Care board members and staff said the organization was not operating at a deficit at the time of the meeting but warned that, without additional community support and state reimbursement increases, closures or consolidation in the sector have been occurring in neighboring counties. Centre Care officials explained that the contingent $500,000 would be tied to milestones such as establishing a formal development and charitable giving program, marketing collateral and a sustained public relations campaign to boost donations.
The board approved the agreement with Centre Care by voice vote; the motion passed with all commissioners saying “aye.” The county administrator noted that, pending final paperwork and board action by Centre Care, the county expects to deliver the initial $900,000 check immediately and the additional conditional funds only after milestones are documented and verified.
Commissioners and Centre Care leaders emphasized services offered at the facility — including rehabilitation programs and on‑site dialysis — as part of the argument for community support. County officials described the county’s contribution as drawn from the remaining ARPA balance and said no further county ARPA funds would be available for the same purpose.
