“Our local hospitals are currently caring for hundreds of patients who don’t need the acute care setting of a hospital but may require complex care provided by a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. Unfortunately, staffing and other resource shortages at skilled nursing facilities make it challenging for these facilities to take on these patients, creating a difficult situation both for the patients who are medically ready to be discharged and for hospitals, which continue to stretch their capacities to admit new patients who require acute care. This grant incentive funding can help our struggling healthcare providers begin to accept additional complex care patients, relieving strain on our local healthcare system and ensuring that people who do require an alternative level of care can receive appropriate treatment.”

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spark transformative change in Monroe County by investing our ARPA funds in programs and projects that serve our community’s greatest needs. This money will directly benefit the people of Monroe County through sustainable initiatives that serve our veterans, residents of underserved neighborhoods, children, people seeking workforce training, vulnerable senior citizens, at-risk youth, families, and small business owners."