Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced $13.9 million to support three projects that will protect and transform the Mohawk Valley’s health care system.

The funds are a part of the $491 million in funding being awarded to improve patient care through the development of high-quality medical facilities and programs serving the inpatient, primary care, mental health, substance use disorder and long-term care needs of communities throughout New York state.

“Now, more than ever, we need to protect health care in New York and ensure the system in place is meeting the needs of current and future generations of New Yorkers,”Cuomo said in a news release. “While others seek to decimate our hospitals and reduce access to quality healthcare, we are investing to help ensure a stronger, healthier New York for all.”

The $2,995,689 award for Nathan Littauer is to “design, construct, and equip a new primary and specialty care facility on the hospital campus to improve access to care.”

According to a news release from Nathan Littauer, the hospital will be utilizing the monies to design, construct, and equip a new primary and specialty care facility on the hospital campus to improve access to care.

“This grant will help our transformation as we evolve from a hospital into a health network” said Laurence E. Kelly, Littauer’s president and CEO in a news release. “Our community benefits when our hospital is strong and growing. As a small, independent, rural hospital we are in the unique position of expanding despite the changing dynamics in healthcare. And we are growing without losing our local roots.”

Nathan Littauer is investing in primary and specialty care to improve access caused by burgeoning patient needs. The proposed facility will add capacity while filling a regional void. The hospital will begin the first phase of the plan this summer.

“We are grateful to Gov. Cuomo for his steadfast commitment to rural health. His vision to fortify hospitals while others seek to dismantle healthcare should be lauded by every New Yorker. His vision to improve access to quality healthcare mirrors Littauer’s mission,”said Kelly in the release.

Nathan Littauer’s Board President, Brain Hanaburgh said, “Nathan Littauer is vital to our community. This grant will ensure our legacy of care will endure for many generations to come.”

Assemblyman Marc Butler said of the news: “Community hospitals are vitally important to the care and health of residents in counties like Fulton County. It is wonderful news that the Nathan Littauer Hospital will be receiving a nearly $3 million grant from the New York State Department of Health to begin design of a new Primary/Specialty Care Center. The center provides services in a wide variety of practices from internal medicine, women’s health, pediatric, occupational medicine and many more. I am pleased to have voted in favor of this grant program to support the modernization of this important hospital to benefit the people of Mohawk Valley.”

Kerry Minor can be reached at kminor@leaderherald.com.