Two federal grants totaling $2,564,562 has been issued to the Paterson Community Health Center to provide primary health care to 76,000 low-income city residents, announced Bill Pascrell, congressman representing New Jersey’s 9th District on Thursday afternoon.

The grant issued by the Department of Health and Human Services will go towards serving the city’s poor residents who visit the center’s two locations, one on Clinton Street and the other on Broadway.

“For more than three decades, PCHC has helped families with limited options by offering cost-effective and accessible care to our community,” said Pascrell. “This federal grant will allow Paterson Community Health Center to continue providing invaluable healthcare services to Patersonians that need it most”

The center opened its doors in 1979 allowing residents without healthcare to see physicians at reduced costs. The center administers oral and mental health as well as substance abuse services at both locations.

“PCHC’s commitment to community health has been demonstrated time and time again, which is why I’ll fight to ensure they have the federal dollars they need to continue their critical work for the people of Paterson,” said Pascrell.

The center also operates a mobile dental van traveling throughout the city providing dental checkups at daycares, public housing projects, churches, schools, and community base organizations.